The Dig/Netflix

This adaptation of John Preston’s novel based on Sutton Hoo has rightly received critical acclaim.

It stars Ranulf Fiennes as Basil Brown the excavator commissioned by widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) to investigate mounds on her land.

He unearths a ship used to bury a Saxon King.

The theme is time.

An archaeological dig necessarily looks back in time but – set in 1939 – there is very much the atmosphere of impending war.

It’s about the times too.

Basil Brown is respectful of Edith but one senses a mutual attraction, especially after the first thing to be excavated is Brown himself after the mound caves in on him.

Two on the dig are Peggy (Lily James) and her sexually-reticent husband Stuart (BenChaplin).

One senses here in Peggy a deeper sexual appetite and she falls for the dashing cousin of Edith Rory Lomax who is about to enlist for the RAF.

The most touching relationship of all is that between Edith’s young son Robert and Basil Brown.

Suffolk where the dig is situated is a county I know well.

The programme captures well its big skies and the low terrain. Fiennes ,who was born in Ipswich, captures that lilting accent.  His is a masterly performance.

Carey Mulligan was criticised for being too young to be a convincing widow but unfairly so as she is a fine actress.

She stands up to the pompous official of the British Museum (Ken Stott) who wants to take over the Dig. One of the quirks of English law is that an Inquest does not just investigate a strange death but treasure troves.

Edith insists it takes its course.

All in all I found this a compelling drama.

It’s as good as the book and almost as good as another adaptation of John Preston – A Very British Scandal.