you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

[–]Innisfree[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Frankly this is also the main appeal of the film to me. I think her story is amazing (and I love paleontology).

Francis Lee, the director, said there is no indication of her having relationships, she lived and worked alone most of her life. So his story is fictional. Apparently Anning's estate really didn't like the idea of the movie.

[–]spirette 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Had never heard of Mary Anning prior to this and her story sounds indeed fascinating. I'm not surprised that the estate isn't fond of a movie depicting her as a lesbian: all women are assumed straight and if they remain single they are still assumed straight.

These people don't seem to realize that lesbians have always existed, they were just hiding, and that the nice old ladies down the street who were "very good friends" were very likely a couple. If there is no evidence she was gay, there is also no evidence she was straight.

[–]Innisfree[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This reminds me of sth Adele Haenel said ré the press calling the story in Portrait "amour impossible". The film shows how women found ways to live it, to make it possible. I mean they should look at Anne Lister, look at the Ladies of llangollen. I can also imagine what went on is some convents :). Like you say we were hiding because we had to.

I am hopeful about the future, there are so many women scientists (not necessarily lesbians) who have fascinating stories that can and should be put on screen.

[–]ohbarnacles 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

That's disappointing. I found out that the character Ronan is playing, Charlotte Murchison, was in real life eleven years older than Anning, whereas Ronan is eighteen-and-a-half years younger than Winslet. It's not as sexy if one isn't borderline-inappropriately younger than the other apparently.

[–]Innisfree[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Oooh, I didn't know there was a basis for Ronan's character - thanks! As usual real life turns out more interesting and instructive in its complexity.

Sigh, at the age difference. In my mind I will ignore it when watching the movie and focus on reading around Anning's life.