Die Ausgrabung

Ein schöner, lyrisch erzählter Film, in dem eine entschlossene Person die größte archäologische Entdeckung macht, eine unerfüllte Person die Liebe ihres Lebens findet und eine Person, die für jemanden ungeheuer wichtig ist… Klaviertöne, Angstgefühle wegen dem beginnenden Krieg, ungezwungene Sonnenuntergänge und mit Kunst und ihrer Ewigkeit verbundene existenzielle Gedanken. Alle Schauspieler sind top. An manchen Stellen gibt es einen atypischen Schnitt, bei dem man nicht sagen kann, dass er einem gefällt, aber auch nicht umgekehrt. (12.02.2021)

A beautiful drama about a group of amateur and professional archaeologists digging burial mounds in Suffolk shortly before the beginning of WWII. A very attractive topic and I found it refreshing that the film focuses mostly on that motif, without getting into any big subplots (I was actually afraid that there would be some sort of romantic storyline). Basically, it’s a film about death, about what was, and about what remains after us with beautiful cinematography and a superb portrayal of the atmosphere of the impending war. (29.01.2021)

The first half is superb. There is no shortage of excitement in the gradual unveiling of the great find, the pre-war atmosphere is palpable and all it takes is a few shots of fortifying London and ominous plane flyovers. But with the arrival of Lily James, it slowly dilutes into a cheap melodrama with some philosophising about life and death, and all that is left for a worthwhile cinematic experience is the nice cinematography and the moving music. The director simply wanted to say a lot, even with a lot of insight, but he put too much on his shoulders and was unable to carry it in the second half. (07.02.2021)

I love stories like this—history, archaeology, and based on true events. I was all set to give it five stars, especially with Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in the lead roles. But halfway through, the film just lost steam. It turned into a series of scenic shots of the English countryside with not much happening. It felt like it was reaching for a sense of poetry but never quite got there. (02.02.2021)

Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes shine in this intimate drama about an archaeological find that rewrote English history. But The Dig is much more about the relationship between two characters who help each other fill the void in their lives, and the history that each of us is a part of, whether we want it or not. Simon Stone made an almost lyrical Terrence Malick-style drama that relies on atmosphere and a very slow pace rather than plot. It's all the more disappointing that in the second half he starts to dwell on the rather banal and pointless stories of the supporting characters. Still, this is a very good drama, which requires a bit of patience from the audience. (03.02.2021)