The Dig (2021)
Carey Mulligan is stunning in this exquisite, heart-rendering period drama.
What is The Dig about?
On the brink of World War II, a wealthy widow hires an archeologist to evacuate a burial mound on her estate. Love, loss, and profound choices intertwine as they uncover Anglo-Saxon treasure and their country prepares for war.
Where can you watch The Dig?
It’s available on Netflix (including Netflix SA).
Trigger Warnings:
Mild sexual innuendos. Partial female nudity (very brief).
My reason for wanting to watch this movie was simple: Carey Mulligan. She is an extraordinary actress, with incredible range and a portfolio of solid movies, and I’m hoping that 2021 will be the year when she receives her well-deserved Oscar (whether for The Dig or Promising Young Woman, it doesn’t matter - just give it to her!)
But as it turns out, I ended up loving this movie for much more than Carey Mulligan.
My review of The Dig
Carey Mulligan’s performance as Edith Pretty, a lonely widow battling through a heart disease while as determined to be there for her young son as she is dedicated to uncovering the treasures on her land, is dynamic and sensitive. Her acting appears effortless, yet carries such extraordinary depth. It’s obvious from her first scene.
Ralph Fiennes is excellent, too, but Mulligan is the clear standout. The secondary cast are decent, but forgettable.
Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in The Dig | from slashfilm.com
The plot is riveting, which you might not expect after reading the synopsis. And yet, the script is so tight, the performances so nuanced and compelling, the story so moving, that I found myself invested and never bored. There’s no dramatic, noisy action - instead, the power that hooks you lies in the actors’ performances and the subtle, authentic beauty and thoughtfulness of the production, the direction, and the writing. It moves gently, yes, but powerfully.
The production (and post production) are a highlight. The costumes, the colour palette of neutral tones, the sound mixing, the piano-centric score, and the breathtaking, unique cinematography (the angles! Honestly, the shots are enough to give you goosebumps) are stunning.
Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in The Dig | from www.rte.ie
Something that did disappoint me, or at least didn’t work as successfully as other elements in the movie, are the story’s themes. Throughout the movie, the script scratches the surface of complex themes such as love, life, death, the purpose of our lives here on earth, the fact that life and its moments are fleeting, and more. However, it only ever scratches the surface. It keeps its examination of these themes simple and vague.
This is not reason enough to avoid the movie. Not at all. But I do think it could’ve dug deeper and the story would’ve been more satisfying and thought-provoking for it.
Have you seen The Dig? What did you think of it?