The Dig Review: An Emotional Tale of the Individuals Involved in the Excavation!

Based on John Preston’s novel of the same name, the new Netflix film, The Dig stars Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in the primary roles with Lily James and Johnny Flynn as the supporting cast. The storyline of the film takes place in 1939 when a widowed landowner Edith Pretty hires a local amateur archaeologist Basil Brown to dig a few burial heaps at her Sutton Hoo property in England. Contrary to the expert’s opinion, Brown discovers something significant in the mounds, as the excavation goes on to “one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time.”

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One of the primary positives of The Dig is its storyline and the approach John Preston, the writer, took to highlight the stories of the people who are involved in the excavation rather than relying heavily on the Sutton Hoo dig or the unfoldings of World War II.

The narrative is more about the human emotions which are involved, be it Edith Pretty’s connection with her son, the relationship that she and Basil Brown share, the amount of trauma and hurdles both Pretty and Brown go through to get the work done, and more. Subsequently, the characters are also decently developed, and the supporting players also had something substantial to work with throughout the runtime.

The performances from the cast also play an integral part and kept me fairly engaged from the beginning to the end. Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes together share some fantastic chemistry and carry the film with their remarkable performances. Lily James also had a meaty role, and her story further strengthened the direction the writer took to showcase this historical drama.

On the technical side of things, Stefan Gregory’s background score stood out the most as the somber notes on the piano elevated the quality of the film alongside Mike Eley’s breathtaking camera work. The panoramic view and the widescreen shots of the countryside of Sutton Hoo, England, add an imperial vibe to the entire film as visually, it is a treat to watch. Adding to the sound and the visuals, the costume design by Alice Babidge fit the whole ambiance perfectly.

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Overall, The Dig tells a compelling story of the individuals involved during the excavation and portrays their emotions and struggles as beautifully as possible. Although the narrative suffers from multiple pacing related issues halfway through, the film ends on a promising note and is definitely worth a watch. Watch ‘The Dig’ on Netflix here.

Rating – 3.25/5 | Grade – B

Images via Netflix