Filmmaker Responds To Claims That Upcoming Biopic Starring Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan Depicts Fictional Lesbian Relationship

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Production has recently just begun on filmmaker Francis Lee’s upcoming project “Ammonite,” which stars Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. And while that combination of filmmaker and actresses would be enough to delight many cinephiles, it appears that “Ammonite” has found itself embroiled in a bit of a controversy.

For those that haven’t been following the pre-production of “Ammonite” (and you probably haven’t), the film tells the true story of Mary Anning, a British paleontologist from the 19th Century, who became shunned by her peers in the scientific community due to her gender and political opinions. However, none of that is what is drawing the ire of some of Anning’s distant relatives.

READ MORE: Francis Lee To Direct Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan In Lesbian Lovers Drama ‘Ammonite’

You see, what is being reported (and it’s only a report given the film isn’t even finished production) is that the script for the film (written by Lee) features a lesbian relationship between Anning, played by Winslet, and a younger woman, played by Ronan. According to a report from the Telegraph, who interviewed some of Anning’s distant relatives, this relationship is pure fiction.

“I believe if Mary Anning was gay she should be portrayed as gay and this should also be by a gay actress,” said Barbara Anning. “But I do not believe there is any evidence to back up portraying her as a gay woman… I believe Mary Anning was abused because she was poor, uneducated and a woman. Is that not enough?”

She added, “Do the film-makers have to resort to using unconfirmed aspects to somebody’s sexuality to make an already remarkable story sensational? Imagine the shame and embarrassment this woman would be feeling right now to actually have her private sex life discussed and played out on screen. This adds nothing to her story.”

Another relative, Lorraine Anning, agrees that the relationship is probably added to drum up interest in the film, but ultimately, doesn’t care.

“I think it might be to make her more attractive. The fact she was a loner, an independent woman, in today’s times that could mean something different,” she said.

“To be honest, it doesn’t matter,” Lorraine added. “As long as it’s well presented and tastefully done and in the spirit of Mary Anning, then I think it’s brilliant.”

READ MORE: Saoirse Ronan Reveals Kate Winslet Is Latest Actor To Join Wes Anderson’s ‘The French Dispatch’

But again, it can’t be stressed enough that no one, outside of those involved in the film’s production, knows the extent of how the relationship is portrayed, and in the end, how respectful the story is to the life of Mary Anning. Enter filmmaker Francis Lee, who took to social media to discuss the controversy.

Lee tweeted, “After seeing queer history be routinely ‘straightened’ throughout culture, and given a historical figure where there is no evidence whatsoever of a heterosexual relationship, is it not permissible to view that person within another context? Particularly a woman whose work and life were subjected to the worst aspects of patriarchy, class discrimination and gender imbalance…”

The filmmaker added, “As a working class, queer film maker, I continually explore the themes of class, gender, sexuality within my work, treating my truthful characters with utter respect and I hope giving them authentic respectful lives and relationships they deserve.”

And as we’ve stressed above, Lee feels that everyone should just relax until the film is out in the public, saying, “As film makers we try to make the best work possible and perhaps it would be better to wait until that work actually exists before assuming, presuming or critiquing what that work is and how it depicts its subjects and world.”