Ammonite (2020)

Set against the windswept coast of 1840s England, "Ammonite" imagines a quiet romance between a solitary fossil hunter and the young woman who upends her isolation. The drama takes its time, letting restraint and repression build toward something far more intimate and physical between its two leads. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan anchor the film with performances that turn tender and unguarded once the story sheds its buttoned-up exterior, delivering sex scenes and nude scenes that feel earned rather than gratuitous. Fans of both actresses will find plenty here, with 4 scenes on site capturing the film's rawest, most explicit stretches. It's a slow-burn period piece that pays off with real heat.