---
title: "Ammonite"
year: 2020
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ammonite"
fi1m_id: "ammonite"
imdb_id: "tt7983894"
tmdb_id: 568467
wikidata_id: "Q60836025"
fi1m_score: 64
critics_score: 66
critics_reviews: 29
published: "2026-10-03T01:08:30.261272+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T01:08:30.750127+00:00"
region: "MX"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ammonite (2020)

Directed by Francis Lee · 1h 58m · Romance, Drama

## Identity

Ammonite

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/ammonite
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** ammonite
- **IMDb ID:** tt7983894
- **TMDB ID:** 568467
- **Wikidata ID:** Q60836025
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7983894/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/568467, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60836025

**Fi1m score: 64** · Critics 66 from 29 reviews

*In a sentence:* Kate Winslet digging up fossils proves more absorbing than anyone falling in love

> Kate Winslet’s physically convincing performance gives Francis Lee’s coastal romance its strongest reason to watch. The care is evident in the images and sound, but Charlotte remains too thinly written for the relationship to convince.

## Synopsis

In a Victorian coastal community, Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) searches among the rocks for fossils. Her days revolve around solitary work, and she has little inclination to make room for company. Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan) asks to accompany her, putting that guarded routine under pressure. Mary wants to get on with her work; Charlotte wants to join her in it. Spending time together opens up the possibility of romance, against the restrictions surrounding their lives. Molly Anning (Gemma Jones) and Elizabeth Philpot (Fiona Shaw) share this small coastal world.

## Review

Francis Lee’s *Ammonite* is most convincing when Mary Anning has work to do. Kate Winslet makes the labour of searching among rocks absorb us without requiring much explanation or conversation. The romance with Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan, is harder to believe, despite the care both actors bring to it. There is enough here to reward an interest in restrained period drama, but the writing around Mary is frustratingly thin.

Mary’s solitude gives Winslet something substantial to play, and she resists making it merely picturesque. Her physical concentration during the fossil work suggests a person accustomed to relying on herself, while the sparse dialogue lets small changes in her bearing carry weight. We felt unexpectedly close to Mary as she worked among the rocks. Winslet makes that effort so persuasive that we wanted more time with the work itself, including the knowledge needed to do it.

Stéphane Fontaine photographs the coastal rocks with enough attention to their rough surfaces that Mary’s labour feels physically demanding. Sarah Finlay’s production design belongs to the same sober period world, keeping the surroundings from competing with the actors. The attention to material detail works because it helps us understand how Mary occupies her days. There is pleasure in watching a period romance take the physical effort of working seriously, rather than treating it as something to establish before the important business begins.

The difficulty is that Charlotte never becomes comparably distinct. Ronan can suggest feeling without spelling it out, but Lee’s screenplay leaves too little for that restraint to communicate. Her presence matters to Mary; her own wants deserve more attention than the writing gives them. The scenes between the women contain moments of tenderness, and the actors prevent the relationship from seeming merely dutiful. Yet we too often have to supply the reasons these particular people would want each other’s company.

The attention to everyday sound is more rewarding. Coastal noise and the insistence of clocks make the women’s surroundings audible, giving the quiet passages something to hold our attention beyond the faces. The music by Hauschka and Dustin O’Halloran cannot make the feelings much clearer when the writing has left them vague. Chris Wyatt’s unhurried editing gives Winslet room to work, but it also leaves stretches in which we are waiting for another detail of character.

A restrained romance need not explain every attraction, and Lee is right to allow physical desire its place without apologising for it. The frankness is welcome, and the actors bring conviction to the physical intimacy. But the film’s speculative use of historical lives makes us want characters who seem capable of existing beyond this relationship. The scientific work is compelling enough to make its limited place in the story a real frustration.

Lee’s seriousness is never in doubt, and the care taken over the performances and surroundings deserves respect. The solemn pace nevertheless makes the underwritten passages feel longer, particularly when Charlotte needs something more substantial to express. Anyone seeking a convincing love story may find themselves doing too much of the work. Watch it for Winslet, with some patience for the pauses.

*Fi1m score 64, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with the strongest agreement around Kate Winslet’s performance: critics repeatedly praise the emotional detail in her physical work and sparse dialogue. Saoirse Ronan also receives substantial praise, while the coastal imagery, tactile photography and attention to everyday sounds earn approval across otherwise differing verdicts. Admirers find the restraint moving and the intimacy persuasive, often responding to the film as a portrait of solitude rather than a conventional romance.

The spread is wide, however, and the central relationship divides critics sharply. The Hollywood Reporter finds the leads emotionally transparent and their intimacy profoundly affecting; Collider finds little chemistry between them and the romance flat. Reservations elsewhere centre on slow pacing, thin characterisation and symbolism that makes the women feel remote. Even several sympathetic reviews find the story slight or the final stretch short of dramatic force, while detractors often retain admiration for Winslet.

## Straight answers

**Is Ammonite worth watching?**

*Ammonite* is worth considering for Kate Winslet’s physically convincing performance and its sober coastal setting; we score it 64 out of 100. We find Mary’s fossil work more absorbing than the romance, so it suits patient admirers of restrained period drama better than anyone seeking a persuasive love story.

**How long is Ammonite, and what is it rated?**

*Ammonite* runs 1h 58m. It is a romance and drama film.

**Where can I watch Ammonite in Mexico?**

*Ammonite* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Mexico, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from MX$50.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Ammonite, and is it suitable for children?**

*Ammonite* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children under 15, with frank physical intimacy the adult content we highlight. We would caution on that basis rather than offer reassurance about violence or frightening material: our review does not assess those elements specifically.

**How does Ammonite compare to Portrait of a Lady on Fire?**

*Ammonite* is our weaker choice for a coastal romance beside [*Portrait of a Lady on Fire*](https://film.one/film/portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire), which gives more attention to how attraction develops. We recommend the latter for its earned tenderness, despite some over-managed restraint; *Ammonite* is more rewarding when Winslet is absorbed in Mary’s fossil work than when it asks us to believe in the relationship.

**What should I watch after Ammonite?**

After *Ammonite*, try [*Portrait of a Lady on Fire*](https://film.one/film/portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire) (2019, Fi1m 89): For another coastal romance, with more attention to how attraction develops. Then [*The Piano*](https://film.one/film/the-piano) (1993, Fi1m 88): Physical work, difficult silences and desire given a more forceful dramatic shape; and [*The Lunchbox*](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox) (2013, Fi1m 75): Everyday routines allow lonely people to approach each other without grand declarations.

### Reviews we read (29)

- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (5/5): O'Sullivan calls the film superb and says it contains multitudes. She praises its tactile cinematography and the performances of Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ammonite-review-audacious-romance-rocks-with-passion-a4572098.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (98/100, inferred): Rooney offers an ecstatic verdict, calling the film profoundly affecting and saying it floored him. He singles out Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan’s emotionally transparent performances and the film’s naturalistic intimacy for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ammonite-film-review-tiff-2020-4057926/)
- **Empire**, Beth Webb (85/100, inferred): Webb finds the film a tender, finely crafted triumph, though its story is slight. She especially praises Winslet’s assured physical performance and the film’s grounded visual craftsmanship. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ammonite/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (85/100, inferred): Chang praises the film as a wrenching, passionate portrait of solitude rather than a sweeping forbidden romance. He singles out Kate Winslet’s extraordinary performance, calling it her finest screen acting since “Mildred Pierce.” [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-11-12/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan)
- **Little White Lies**, Jourdain Searles (3/4/4): Searles finds the film atmospheric and emotionally complete, while noting it is not a conventional love story. The review praises the meticulous attention to everyday sounds and gestures, and the poetic refusal of the ending to provide the expected resolution. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ammonite)
- **Radio Times**, Josh Winning (4/5): The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict. They single out Kate Winslet’s achingly vulnerable performance for praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-eybv6a/ammonite/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (4/5): Bradshaw finds the film absorbing, intimate and intelligently acted, though its characters feel slightly less real than those in Lee’s previous film. He particularly praises the combined screen presence of Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/12/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-mary-anning-fossils-lyme-regis-francis-lee)
- **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The page gives the film a positive verdict as an unhurried period tale. It singles out Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan battling against the times amid love and fossils. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ammonite)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Nick Allen (3/4): The critic gives the film a positive but measured assessment. The page was blocked, so its specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ammonite-movie-review-2020)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (75/100, inferred): Lane finds that the film persuades despite its speculative historical premise, and praises how emotionally grounded it feels. He singles out its vivid treatment of the elemental connection between desire and death. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/16/discoveries-and-awakenings-in-ammonite)
- **The AV Club**, Katie Rife (B-): Rife finds the romance pallid and emotionally elusive despite its occasional grim beauty. She singles out the sound design’s contrast between untamed nature and prim Victorian timepieces for praise. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/kate-winslet-and-saoirse-ronan-fall-into-a-seaside-roma-1845031331)
- **Screen Daily**, Fionnuala Halligan (65/100, inferred): The review frames the film as a solemn love story sparked by Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, but the full verdict is behind a paywall. The standfirst singles out the leads as the spark for the romance. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ammonite-toronto-review/5152830.article)
- **Sight and Sound** (65/100, inferred): The review finds the film sensorial and affecting, though its central romance is largely concealed. It especially praises the immersive coastal sound design and Lee’s expression of carnal desire. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ammonite-2020-francis-lee-mary-anning-lyme-regis-fossil-collector-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-lesbian-romance)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so its critical verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/movies/ammonite-review.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, David Robb (2.5/4): Robb finds the film visually impressive but ultimately constrained by heavy-handed symbolism and its burden of historical significance. He praises Kate Winslet’s performance and the intimacy of the sex scenes, while faulting the imagery for often feeling lifeless. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-ammonite-suggests-an-exquisitely-rendered-museum-piece/)
- **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (C): Erbland finds the romance chilly and emotionally unconvincing, despite the lead actors’ commitment. She praises a few small moments of connection but faults the script and direction for leaving the characters at a remove. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-francis-lee-1234584265/)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (35/100, inferred): Newland finds the film a beautiful but plodding, ultimately ordinary romance. She praises the leads’ chemistry and the director’s eye for coastal textures, but finds the concluding section inert. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/ammonite-review-winslet-ronan-chemistry-plodding-romance-929122)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (35/100, inferred): Debruge finds the romance stark and ultimately more symbolic than satisfying, though he sees enough to recommend it. He praises Winslet and Ronan’s committed performances but faults the film for failing to make their passion resonate. [Read](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-1234767644/)
- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (30/100, inferred): Willmore finds the romance emotionally hollow, despite its tactile naturalism and restrained style. She praises Kate Winslet’s performance, while criticizing Charlotte’s thin characterization and the writing’s empty silences. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-ammonite-with-kate-winslet-and-saoirse-ronan.html)
- **NME** (78/100, inferred): The review finds the film a subtly affecting and moving love story. It particularly praises Kate Winslet’s performance and the way the changing landscape reflects Mary Anning’s emotional transformation. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-2789732)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film deeply emotional but admirably restrained, with its subtle pleasures lingering. They single out Winslet and Ronan’s performances and their wrenching, beautifully choreographed love scene. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/ammonite-film-review-tiff/)
- **Deadline**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film unusual and compelling, though its final stretch lacks dramatic force. He praises its tactile atmosphere and frank portrayal of the women’s relationship. [Read](https://deadline.com/2020/09/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-neon-1234575737/)
- **Paste**, Natalia Keogan (6.6/10): Keogan argues that the film reduces Mary Anning and Charlotte Murchison’s lives to speculative romance while neglecting their scientific achievements. She praises Kate Winslet’s performance for conveying emotional depth through sparse dialogue and precise body language. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ammonite-review)
- **/Film**, Jason Gorber (6.5/10): Gorber finds the film chilly and underdeveloped, with its emotional payoff feeling unearned. He praises Winslet’s performance as well suited to the film’s austere tone. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/576729/ammonite-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (2.5/5): The critic finds the romance cold and the film dreary, despite the actors’ committed performances. He singles out the scenes of Mary working among the rocks as more compelling than the love story. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan-romance/)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (40/100, inferred): Kermode finds the film’s strongest work compelling but says its glacial pace and thin character development keep it from succeeding overall. She praises the leads’ performances and the blunt, unromantic portrayal of desire. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ammonite-2020-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)
- **HeyUGuys** (40/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a middling love story, weighed down by misery and a lack of emotional connection. They praise the lead performances and Lee’s atmospheric use of landscape, but find the romance unconvincing. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/ammonite-review/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (D): Goldberg finds the romance cold, flat, and aggressively dull, with little emotional connection between its leads. He singles out the lack of chemistry between Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan as a key weakness. [Read](https://collider.com/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-saoirse-ronan/)
- **Polygon**, Siddhant Adlakha (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film’s romance tepid and its storytelling mechanically paced, despite its thoughtful approach to queer history. They single out the visual craft in a brief scene suggesting Anning’s past connection with Elizabeth Philpot. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/5/22155561/ammonite-review-kate-winslet-romance/)

## Details

- **Director:** Francis Lee
- **Director:** Francis Lee
- **Writer:** Francis Lee
- **Cinematography:** Stéphane Fontaine
- **Editor:** Chris Wyatt
- **Music:** Dustin O'Halloran, Hauschka
- **Production design:** Sarah Finlay
- **Costume design:** Michael O'Connor
- **Producer:** Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
- **Cast:** Kate Winslet as Mary Anning; Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchison; Gemma Jones as Molly Anning; James McArdle as Roderick Murchison; Alec Secăreanu as Dr. Lieberson; Fiona Shaw as Elizabeth Philpot; Sarah White as Museum Cleaning Woman; Liam Thomas as Museum Workman
- **Runtime:** 1h 58m
- **First release (Canada):** 11 September 2020
- **Genres:** Romance, Drama
- **Box office:** $1 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6l5d66n2Fk

## Where to watch in Mexico

- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- Amazon Prime Video: rent MX$50.00, hd
- Apple TV: rent MX$50.00, hd
- Apple TV: buy MX$129.00, sd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy MX$129.00, sd

*Checked 2026-10-03.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- European Film Award for Best Costume Designer 2021: European Film Award for Best Costume Designer (won)

## If you liked this

- *Portrait of a Lady on Fire* (2019), Fi1m 89: For another coastal romance, with more attention to how attraction develops. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire.md)
- *The Piano* (1993), Fi1m 88: Physical work, difficult silences and desire given a more forceful dramatic shape. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-piano.md)
- *The Lunchbox* (2013), Fi1m 75: Everyday routines allow lonely people to approach each other without grand declarations. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox.md)
- *Brief Encounter* (1945), Fi1m 90: For restrained longing that makes each ordinary meeting feel difficult to abandon. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md)
- *Desert Hearts* (1985): A warmer lesbian romance, attentive to the women on both sides of attraction.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/ammonite