On Chesil Beach

2018

1h 50m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

383

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2 Videos

71 Images

Drama

Romance

In 1962 England, a young couple finds their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.

Directors

Dominic Cooke

Writers

Ian McEwan(novel by)

Ian McEwan(screenplay by)

Stars

Saoirse Ronan

Billy Howle

Anne-Marie Duff

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Videos2

Trailer
Watch Official Trailer
Featurette
Watch ON CHESIL BEACH Q&A | BFI London Film Festival 2017

Top cast

Florence Ponting

Edward Mayhew

Marjorie Mayhew

Lionel Mayhew

Violet Ponting

Geoffrey Ponting

Waiter One

Waiter Two

Harriet Mayhew

Anne Mayhew

Ruth Ponting

Postman Terry

Timothy

Charles Morrell

Jenny

Sonia

Elsbeth

Young Florence

Directors

Dominic Cooke

Writers

Ian McEwan(novel by)

Ian McEwan(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

While the 1960s were seen as a period of sexual revolution, it is easy to forget that - like today - not everyone follows the same path. _On Chesil Beach_ follows two virgins, Florence (Saoirse Ronan) and Edward (Billy Howle), as they try to consummate their marriage on their wedding night. Interspersed with flashbacks of how the couple met and their relationship developed, it becomes clear that Florence and Edward have very different reactions to the experience. As a deep dive into sexuality, especially asexuality, _On Chesil Beach_ is a fascinating piece of work. It is likely to be much more reflective of the 1960s than media that portrays an era of hippies, drugs and promiscuity. This remains a generation recovering from the effects of war and still very much under the influence of their parents' reservations. Unfortunately, in some ways, the film is also held back by those same reservations. Florence is shown as both extremely innocent and naïve, but with a hunger and desire to achieve her professional goals, while Edward is more of the free-spirit and happy to appease his wife, but with occasional signs of a wicked temper. The film gets caught up with backstory, trying to hammer those points home, to the detriment of exploring the present day. It is with great credit that the two leads are able to convey a sense of humanity. Saoirse Ronan, especially, is able to escape the ponderous nature of her character's personality to deliver a performance that is brutally honest and relatable, while Billy Howle is able to add enough empathy to avoid the obvious trap of being portrayed as the villain in what is otherwise a tragic story. Despite occasionally bordering on tedium as a form of entertainment, _On Chesil Beach_ is essential sexual education viewing.

wizzardss17 Feb, 2021