Mary Anning

Mary Anning Chase Aux Fossiles
Dorset, England, 1811. Mary Anning, the curious and whip smart 12-year-old, spends her days on the shore digging for fossils, a talent and passion inherited from her father. One stormy day, her father disappears, leaving behind only a cryptic drawing. Without him, Mary’s mother struggles to take care of the family alone and decides to move to the city for more opportunities. But Mary doesn’t want to be separated from her beloved cliffside, where the secrets of an ancient world are just waiting to be uncovered. Ignoring warnings from her mother and the very narrow ideas about science and women preached by her teacher, Mary continues to pursue the mystery her father left behind, forever changing the world of science. Based on the early life of the real Mary Anning, who made her first major discovery at age 12, this tender, soft-hued story features a “punk, teen, lo-fi rock” soundtrack fit for this pioneer of early palaeontology.

Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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