The Dig brought another film to mind—one also centered on archaeology, with the added distinction of being based on actual events and highlighting a woman’s involvement in scientific discovery. That earlier film was Ammonite, which tells the story of an archaeologist during a period when women were uncommon in that profession. However, Edith Pretty in The Dig takes a different approach; she doesn't participate directly in the fieldwork. Instead, her fascination with archaeology and desire to understand the mounds on her land prompt her to employ Basil Brown, who taught himself about archaeology and prefers to be called an “excavator” within the film. I found the movie enjoyable despite—or maybe even because of—its unhurried rhythm and lack of intense action. If you’re feeling tired but choose to watch a movie anyway, this one might be better suited for when you're more awake. As is typical with biographical films and other movies inspired by true stories, alterations have been introduced to make the narrative more engaging. It seems some of these changes first appeared in the novel that served as its basis. For instance, because many films require a “villain,” the British Museum appears somewhat more antagonistic than it actually was. Similarly, since a romantic relationship didn’t exist between the primary characters, one was created between two supporting roles. And naturally, actress Carrie Mulligan was twenty years younger than Edith Pretty was when the events transpired, although they did use makeup to age her appearance. These kinds of modifications are fairly standard. The final product is a film that manages to be both diverting and, if I may say so, somewhat informative.

Source on TMDB