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, this movie explores sex and the societal pressure that can accompany physical intimacy, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. This movie features Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Anne-Marie Duff, Adrian Scarborough, Emily Watson, and Samuel West.

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Plot Keywords:

honeymoon | fear of intimacy | year 1962 | wedding night | chamber music | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carey Mulligan was previously attached to portray Florence Ponting when Sam Mendes was set to direct.

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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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Quotes

Florence Ponting: You know I love you.
Edward Mayhew: Still!
Florence Ponting: I want to spend my life with you. And you feel the same. We love each other and we can set each other free. Edward, it must be obvious to you by now that I'm...
Edward Mayhew: Florence, what is it?
Florence Ponting: That I'm pretty hopeless. No, I'm absolutely hopeless at sex. I'm no good at it. I don't seem to need it like other people, like you do. I might change, but I can't imagine it. If I don't say this now, we'll always be struggling with it. It's going to cause you a lot of unhappiness and me ...

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Connections

Features A Taste of Honey (1961)

User Reviews

Man! That was really really sad.

I'm not sure weather I likes it or if it was just a downer. It Starrs out this awkward movie about to inexperience kids getting married and trying to get it on at their honeymoon. Than just became this grim moment of how sometimes it don't work out.

It's a long process too. I hate when movies draw it out but it does help In the sadness.

Movie reminds me of Brooklyn but more boring. I don't get any film Saoirse Ronan stars in (Except for Lady Bird). Actually that's not true at all, but all of her movies are far too artsy for me sometimes to the point where I don't understand the critical acclaim of some of these things.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

On Chesil Beach

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,765, 20 May 2018

Gross USA:

$745,971

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,335,913

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Number 9 Films, Golan Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1