The Ammonite movie trailer is released for the upcoming drama. The film is expected for a winter 2020 release. Set in 1800s England, Ammonite tells the story of paleontologist Mary Anning and centers on her relationship with lover Charlotte Murchison. The film is directed by Francis Lee, who rose to prominence with his 2017 film God's Own Country, which tells the story of an English sheep farmer, played by Jack O'Connor, who falls in love with a Romanian migrant worker, played by Alec Secareanu. Ammonite is expected to gain universal acclaim from both critics and the Academy, since period dramas, particularly of the romantic variety, have been notably hailed by Oscar voters in the past.
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The Ammonite movie trailer features Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan starring as Anning and Murchison, respectively. Ammonite marks the latest period drama Ronan has starred in since her turn as Jo March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women, which saw critical acclaim in its 2019 release. If Ronan receives positive recognition by the Academy for her role in Ammonite, she will be the youngest person in Oscar history to have acquired a whopping five nominations. Winslet is also known for her success in period pieces, having won an Academy Award for her performance in Stephen Daldry's The Reader in 2008.
Just based on the trailer, Ammonite seems to resemble the acclaimed 2019 French drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which tells the similar story of two star-crossed female lovers while set in a period that is untimely for their love. Considering how lauded Portrait of a Lady on Fire was by both audiences and critics (the film holds a 98 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it will come as no surprise if Ammonite receives similar, if not better, accolades so long as it is also a well-told and beautifully crafted movie.