‘Ammonite’: Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan Are The Latest Ladies On Fire In Francis Lee’s Gorgeous-Looking Gay Romantic Drama

One of the best films of 2017 you didn’t see and one of the best films of that year, period? Francis Lee’s “God’s Own Country.” It was an astonishing feature-length debut and landed Lee immediately on every list imaginable where filmmakers-to-watch were concerned (“God’s Own Country” also won Sundance’s World Cinema directing award that year). A gay love story, many would argue the film was the superior gay love story of that year too, besting “Call Me By Your Name,” and its timidness in showing gay love and sexuality onscreen. Regardless, Lee parlayed that film into the biggest of his career, “Ammonite,” another romantic, this time starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan as unlikely lovers.

‘God’s Own Country’ Is A Sexy And Intimate Tale Of A Gay Man Finding Love [Review]

It’s a film that screams this year’s “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire,” and yet, distinct, original and fresh. Scooped up by Neon Film last year—not for nothing the company behind ‘Portrait’ and Oscar Best Picture winner “Parasite,” “Ammonite” hasn’t played anywhere yet, publicly, but it has all the ingredients to be another major Oscar contender this year for Neon. In fact, “Ammonite” is already an official selection title from the Cannes Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival (though neither festival were able to show it publicly given they were forced to cancel) and will make its proper world premiere at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

READ MORE: 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2020

“Ammonite” also stars Gemma Jones, James McArdle, Alec Secareanu, and Fiona Shaw in supporting role, but by the looks of the gorgeous trailer, is mostly a tension-filled two-hander between Winslet and Ronan. Here’s the official synopsis: 

READ MORE: Telluride 2020 Selections: Canceled Festival Would Have Featured Films From Gia Coppola, Chloé Zhao & Francis Lee

In 1800s England, acclaimed but unrecognized fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) works alone on the rugged Southern coastline. With the days of her famed discoveries behind her, she now searches for common fossils to sell to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother. When a wealthy visitor entrusts Mary with the care of his wife Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan), she cannot afford to turn his offer down. Proud and relentlessly passionate about her work, Mary initially clashes with her unwelcome guest, but despite the distance between their social class and personalities, an intense bond begins to develop, compelling the two women to determine the true nature of their relationship.

READ MORE: TIFF 2020 Line-Up Announced: New Films By Regina King, Werner Herzog & Halle Berry

“Ammonite” is scheduled for a November 13 release via Neon, but will likely make a big splash before that at the Toronto International Festival in early September. Watch the first trailer below.