If many modern viewers have never heard of Anning, Ammonite does well to bring her story to their attention, and deservedly so.

Lee has, over his two films so far, proven a dab hand at teasing out unexpressed, furtive desires, depicting both the visceral emotions and gritty physicality of same-sex romance with empathy and an understated artistic flair.

It adds up to an expertly crafted film that nonetheless feels somewhat distanced and removed, like an exhibit under glass.

Winslet and Ronan are excellent in roles in which dialogue is relatively sparse.