DramaRomance

On Chesil Beach

- A different time. A different love.

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.

Release Date : 2018-01-19

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Number 9 FilmsBBC Film

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : On Chesil Beach

Cast

Character Name : Florence Ponting

Original Name : Saoirse Ronan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Edward Mayhew

Original Name : Billy Howle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marjorie Mayhew

Original Name : Anne-Marie Duff

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lionel Mayhew

Original Name : Adrian Scarborough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Violet Ponting

Original Name : Emily Watson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Geoffrey Ponting

Original Name : Samuel West

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter One

Original Name : Andy Burse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter Two

Original Name : Rasmus Hardiker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harriet Mayhew

Original Name : Mia Burgess

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anne Mayhew

Original Name : Anna Burgess

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ruth Ponting

Original Name : Bebe Cave

Gender : Female

Character Name : Postman Terry

Original Name : John Ramm

Gender : Male

Character Name : Timothy

Original Name : Barney Iley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charles Morrell

Original Name : Mark Donald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny

Original Name : Imogen Daines

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sonia

Original Name : Molly Miles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elsbeth

Original Name : Victoria Hamnett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Florence

Original Name : Marianne Cecil

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harold Mather

Original Name : Martin Bassindale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack

Original Name : Daniel Boyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ted

Original Name : Oliver Johnstone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bob

Original Name : Philip Labey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Soho

Original Name : Tony Lucken

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Soho

Original Name : Esther Coles

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cricket Captain

Original Name : Christopher Rob Bowen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reverend Woollett

Original Name : Anton Lesser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bridal Shop Assistant

Original Name : Toby Dantzic

Gender : Male

Character Name : Molly

Original Name : Tamara Lawrance

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Chloe Morrell

Original Name : Bronte Carmichael

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tina

Original Name : Terenia Edwards

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dana

Original Name : Roseanna Leathley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Phil

Original Name : Jonjo O'Neill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jane

Original Name : Claudia Jolly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Violinist

Original Name : Esther Yoo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Older Chloe

Original Name : Nadia Townsend

Gender : Female

Character Name : Wigmore Concert Attendee

Original Name : Ty Hurley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cricket Spectator

Original Name : Mike Ray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Recital Visitor

Original Name : Claire Ashton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Audience Member Wigmore Hall Concert

Original Name : Caroline Garnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Train Driver

Original Name : David Cradduck

Gender : Male

Character Name : Blues Club

Original Name : Martin Bratanov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Oxford academic

Original Name : John Kinory

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Simon North

Gender : Male

Character Name : Employee in suit

Original Name : Nigel Eaton

Gender : Male

Reviews

wizzardss

@wizzardss

2021-06-23

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.