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IMDbPro

The Dig

  • 20212021
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
77K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,242
24
Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
As WWII looms, a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain's past resonate in the face of its uncertain future‎.
Play trailer2:12
6 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
77K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,242
24
    • Simon Stone
    • Moira Buffini(screenplay by)
    • John Preston(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Carey Mulligan
    • Ralph Fiennes
    • Lily James
    • Simon Stone
    • Moira Buffini(screenplay by)
    • John Preston(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Carey Mulligan
    • Ralph Fiennes
    • Lily James
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 534User reviews
    • 327Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 BAFTA Awards

    Videos6

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Dig
    Clip 1:03
    Watch The Dig
    The Dig
    Clip 0:58
    Watch The Dig
    The Dig
    Clip 0:59
    Watch The Dig
    The Dig: Human Remains
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Dig: Human Remains
    The Dig: Found That Ship
    Clip 0:55
    Watch The Dig: Found That Ship

    Photos186

    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Lily James in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes in The Dig (2021)
    Lily James in The Dig (2021)
    Archie Barnes and Johnny Flynn in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)
    Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in The Dig (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Carey Mulligan
    Carey Mulligan
    • Edith Pretty
    Ralph Fiennes
    Ralph Fiennes
    • Basil Brown
    Lily James
    Lily James
    • Peggy Piggott
    Johnny Flynn
    Johnny Flynn
    • Rory Lomax
    Stephen Worrall
    • Ferryman
    Danny Webb
    Danny Webb
    • John Grateley
    Archie Barnes
    • Robert Pretty
    Robert Wilfort
    • Billy Lyons
    James Dryden
    James Dryden
    • George Spooner
    Joe Hurst
    Joe Hurst
    • John Jacobs
    Paul Ready
    Paul Ready
    • James Reid Moir
    Peter McDonald
    Peter McDonald
    • Guy Maynard
    Christopher Godwin
    • Dr Parry
    Ellie Piercy
    Ellie Piercy
    • Mrs Lyons
    Bronwyn James
    Bronwyn James
    • Ellen McKenzie
    Desmond Kaliszewski
    • Barge Skipper
    Monica Dolan
    Monica Dolan
    • May Brown
    Jonah Rzeskiewicz
    Jonah Rzeskiewicz
    • London Man
      • Simon Stone
      • Moira Buffini(screenplay by)
      • John Preston(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Reimagines the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. It is the site of two early medieval cemeteries that date from the 6th to 7th centuries. One cemetery had an undisturbed ship burial with a wealth of Anglo-Saxon artifacts. Most of these objects are now held by the British Museum.
    • Goofs
      Edith's son Robert can be seen wearing an aluminium foil hat early in the movie, Aluminium foil did not surface until after the war, but tin foil had existed since the 19th century.
    • Quotes

      Basil Brown: Robert, we all fail. Every day. There are some things we just can't succeed at no matter how hard we try. I know it's not what you want to hear.

    • Connections
      Featured in Jeremy Vine: Episode #4.25 (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      La Rejouissance (Allegro)
      Written by George Frideric Handel

      Public Domain

      Arranged by Julian Kershaw

      Performed by Alder Valley Brass

    User reviews534

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Watch it for the wonderful performances from Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes
    "The Dig" (2021 release from the UK; 112 min.) reminds us at the very beginning that this is "Based On a True Story". We then go to "Suffolk, England, 1939" as Basil Brown arrives at the house of Edith Pretty. Turns out Mrs. Pretty has hired Mr. Brown to do some archeological work on her estate. Her young son excitedly asks Mr. Brown "Are you going to dig upo the mountain?". Mr. Brown, taking room and pension at Mrs. Ptretty's house, starts to dig and soon is working his way towards some intriguing finds... At this point we are 15 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

    Couple of comments: this is directed by little known Australian director Simon Stone ("The Daughter)". Here he brings us a historical drama about what later became known as the Sutton Hoo treasure, one of the biggest archeological finds in British history. The setting of 1939 is pivotal in several ways: of course the threat of WWII is in the air, but even more important, the way of life in those days was just entirely different, and being in a remote English area (near Ipswich) only reinfornces that. So be prepated for a slow moving film, I didn't mind it one bit. Even more critical for the movie is Carey Mulligan's exquisite lead performance. Playing a person who is more than 20 years her senior in real life (Carey is 35, Mrs, Pretty was in her mid-50s in 1939), she does so with grace and style and presence. The role couldn't be more different from what Carey did in the recently released "Promising Young Woman", which was in my top 3 of the bests films of 2020. Ralph Fiennes is equally great as the excavator Mr. Brown. Last but not least there is a wonderful orchestral score by Stefan Gregory, who I must admit was previously unknown to me.

    "The Dig" opened last weekend in select theaters for a short run before then moving on to Netflix. (Seems like every other new theatrical release these days follows that pattern....) Thankfully the film opened at my art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The early Satruday evening screening where I saw this at was attended so-so (exactly 5 people including myself). Never mind. If you are in the mood for a good ol' fashioned hisstorical drama featuring outstanding performances from Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD< or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
    helpful•40
    19
    • paul-allaer
    • Jan 20, 2021

    FAQ1

    • Why is it- at 1:13:18- Stuart can't remember his own wife's name?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 29, 2021 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • Netflix Site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Shackleford, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Netflix
      • Magnolia Mae Films
      • Clerkenwell Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 52 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital

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