A period drama chronicling a monumental moment in British archaeology from nearly a century ago has been hailed by viewers as “moving”, and is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The Dig, which premiered in 2021, is a Netflix original historical drama depicting the 1939 excavation of the Sutton Hoo ship burial in Suffolk, England.
The narrative centres on landowner Edith Pretty (portrayed by Carey Mulligan) who employs self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes) to examine burial mounds on her estate, leading to the discovery of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon king’s vessel, regarded as amongst Britain’s most significant archaeological discoveries. Based on actual events, the film dramatises the find on the brink of World War II, incorporating a romantic subplot and also features Downton Abbey star Lily James. The production has captivated cinema enthusiasts, achieving a remarkable 88% rating on film review platform Rotten Tomatoes.
One viewer’s critique noted: “I like the movie. The storyline was good and subplots were good as well. Ralph Fiennes was good in it as usual.”
Another commented: “I found the story moving and consequential. The acting was superb. Mulligan, Fiennes and James were outstanding. If you have visited the British Museum this movie/story will resonate and leave you searching for more details. It was an inspiring story.”
A third commented: “I just watched The Dig, and I have to say, it’s such a beautiful and moving film. I knew a little bit about the Sutton Hoo discovery, but this film really brings the whole story to life in such a heartfelt way. It’s not just about the archaeology; it’s about the people behind it and everything they went through.”
“Outstanding period piece. Superb performances from Mulligan and Fiennes,” said another. A fifth added: “Really strong cast, very well made film. Remarkably interesting given the slightly less than exciting material on offer. A couple of hours well spent.
“No car chases, no gun fights, or CGI special effects. No unnecessary bad language. A shame they don’t make more films like this.”
Yet not everybody shared the same enthusiasm, with one viewer writing: “The Dig is good but not great. In spite of some very good performances and a beautiful filming – especially the gorgeous countryside – the action is slow and by the second part it falls into a more conventional melodrama.”
Another remarked: “Tedious and slow, not enough to keep most people interested for two hours.
“It’s a good movie that tells a very interesting story, though I found it slow at times and not the most entertaining,” said another viewer.
The Dig is now available on BBC iPlayer.
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