On Chesil Beach (2017)

Based on Ian McEwan's novel. In 1962 England, a young couple find their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.

Director:

Dominic Cooke

Writers:

Ian McEwan (screenplay), Ian McEwan (novel)

Stars:

Billy Howle, Saoirse Ronan, Andy Burse

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Howle	...	Edward Mayhew
Saoirse Ronan	...	Florence Ponting
Andy Burse	...	Waiter One
Rasmus Hardiker	...	Waiter Two
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Marjorie Mayhew
Adrian Scarborough	...	Lionel Mayhew
Mia Burgess	...	Harriet Mayhew
Anna Burgess	...	Anne Mayhew
Emily Watson	...	Violet Ponting
Bebe Cave	...	Ruth Ponting
Samuel West	...	Geoffrey Ponting
John Ramm	...	Postman Terry
Barney Iley	...	Timothy
Mark Donald	...	Charles
Imogen Daines	...	Jenny

Storyline

Adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestselling novel, the drama centers on a young couple of drastically different backgrounds in the summer of 1962. Following the pair through their idyllic courtship, the film explores sex and the societal pressure that can accompany physical intimacy, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Anne-Marie Duff, Adrian Scarborough, Emily Watson, and Samuel West.

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Plot Keywords:

fear of intimacy | year 1962 | honeymoon | chamber music | newlyweds | 

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Taglines:

This is how the entire course of a life can be changed: by doing nothing

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Al Khof Chesil

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,765, 20 May 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$745,971

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Number 9 Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Principal photography began on 17 October 2016, on Chesil Beach, Dorset, England. Other filming locations included London, Oxford and Pinewood Studios in England.

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Goofs

In the tennis match between Edward and Florence's father (Geoffrey), they're either counting the games wrong or not alternating service properly. Edward begins serving at the start of the third set, so he should be serving when the game score is even. We immediately jump forward to a later game in which Geoffrey is serving. Geoffrey loses the game (for a change), and Edward announces the score as 1-4 before serving, which means he is now serving when the game score is odd.

It's also slightly off that Geoffrey starts serving the first set, and then Geoffrey begins serving the third set after 12 games. This, however, could simply be the result of Geoffrey letting Edward begin serving the third set, out-of-order and out of strict compliance with the rules, as a sop after beating him 6-0, 6-0 in the first two sets.

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Connections

Features A Taste of Honey (1961)

User Reviews

Love Saoirse, but ...

This movie was a particular disappointment as Saoirse put in another wonderful performance and the co-star Billy Howle was also good. It is a coming-of-age movie with the awkwardness of the two parties being central. But unfortunately the scenes of their awkwardness go on forever and the quite nice music in the background, rather than making it more important, just seems to be pushing it. This movie needed a lot more substance or a lot sharper editing ... or maybe a different director. Maybe the moral is that the author (here Ian McEwan, whose work I like a lot) shouldn't be allowed to write the screenplay. Not an unpleasant way to spend a couple of hours, but I really hope that Saoirse takes on meatier roles.