Parents' Guide to

The Dig

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Dignified, subtle historical drama has sensuality, smoking.

Movie PG-13 2021 112 minutes
The Dig Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Matthew J.
Matthew J. Adult
December 30, 2021
age 14+

Ruined a true story.

This could have been a good movie, but they chose to ruin it by adding things that were not a part of the historical account. They took a married couple (who were really a part of the project) and turned them into the wife being an adulterer and the husband being homosexual. Neither of these ever happened. Why make that a part of the story? Not only did they make these things up, but then they made those choices come across as romantic. It did not add to the remarkable story, and it became a distraction. Ruined the movie for me.
1 person found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 30, 2022
age 13+

Building the future by unearthing the past

Slow burn of a film that demands patience and is better experienced than heavily thought about. It is a film about people trying to give to the future by unearthing the past. It succeeds in giving the audience hope that there are people who think about the future by preserving the past so we can learn and build. The story takes a few turns that seem extraneous to the plot, perhaps it was an adaptation issue.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on real events (which were dramatized in John Preston's historical novel), THE DIG follows wealthy widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) as she hires amateur archeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate what appear to be ancient burial mounds on her countryside property in Suffolk, England. As the country prepares to enter World War II -- and Pretty's health declines -- they hasten to complete the project.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (7):

Graceful, restrained, and eloquent: The tone, aesthetic, and delivery of this drama match that of its aristocratic main character. Magnificently well-woven, the complexities of the story also resemble the excavation -- it's slow and steady, and we must keep brushing away the dust and pay close attention to slight details to discover the inner lives of the subjects. Intense feelings are bubbling under the surface but never expressed. Even the slights and jabs directed at gender and class are understated.

While little is said in The Dig, much is understood ... and yet it's hard to distinguish exactly what it's trying to say. Gentle whispers that we live on through our actions blow around like dandelion fuzz, contrasting sharply with the abundance of blatant metaphors. For example, a short time after Brown speaks with Edith about potential riches to be found buried in the mound, the dirt collapses on him, and she digs him out -- yep, Mr. Brown is the real treasure here. Less obvious is director Simon Stone's choice to play dialogue over scenes in which the characters are shown not speaking. Once or twice, sure. But used repeatedly, the device becomes disconcerting. Still, The Dig is artful, elegant, and educational. All of this may sound enticing if you're an adult, but expect kids to be a bit confounded by the nuance. Reading between the lines isn't usually the strong suit of the young, and so for them to get the most out of the film, this is a gem that may need to stay undiscovered until they're a tad older.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how we can be comforted by legacy while dealing with loss. Is there a right or a wrong way to grieve?

  • How do the characters in The Dig demonstrate restraint? Imagine this story being told as a reality show: How would it be different? In comparing the two, how is self-control an important tool in accomplishing a goal?

  • How is this a team effort? Did the professional crew add value to the excavation? And how did Basil Brown and his team add value once the museum's experienced team came in? Why is teamwork an important life skill?

  • Young Robert cries because he believes he's failed to "look after his mother." Why do you think well-meaning people say things like this or "you're the man of the house now" to children after parental loss? Can that do more harm than good?

  • Carey Mulligan, who's in her mid-30s, plays Edith Pretty at 56. And 50-year-old Ben Chaplin plays Stuart Piggott at 29. Female actors often say that fewer parts become available to them as they age, while male actors tend to work more as they age. Do you consider this movie's casting ageist or age blind?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate