Ammonite

Synopsis

Mary Anning earns a precarious living collecting fossils along England’s southern coast. Although her scientific discoveries have attracted attention, her daily work now means finding specimens she can sell while caring for her mother. A wealthy visitor offers payment for Mary to look after his wife, Charlotte, who has come to the seaside to recover. Mary accepts out of financial necessity rather than enthusiasm. Their differences in temperament and social position make the arrangement uncomfortable, but time spent together changes its meaning. Practical care develops into an intimate attachment that neither woman can easily fit into her existing life. The romance brings questions of independence, money, recognition and belonging into the same frame as their growing desire.