FanzizFanziz
Movie Background

On Chesil Beach

Set in 1962 England, a young couple's idyllic romance collides with debates over sexual freedom and social expectations, culminating in an awkward and fateful wedding night.

Director(s)

Dominic Cooke

George Walker

Rowena Ladbury

Ben Harrison

Marie Devautour

Teresa Orlando

Cydney Uffindell-Phillips

Where to watch

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video

Subscription

Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Subscription

Apple TV Store

Apple TV Store

Rent

Google Play Movies

Google Play Movies

Rent

YouTube

YouTube

Rent

Apple TV Store

Apple TV Store

Buy

Google Play Movies

Google Play Movies

Buy

YouTube

YouTube

Buy

Cast & Crew

Rowena Ladbury

Rowena Ladbury

-

Anne-Marie Duff

Anne-Marie Duff

Marjorie Mayhew

Oliver Johnstone

Oliver Johnstone

Ted

Billy Howle

Billy Howle

Edward Mayhew

Tamara Lawrance

Tamara Lawrance

Molly

Emily Watson

Emily Watson

Violet Ponting

Jonjo O'Neill

Jonjo O'Neill

Phil

Anton Lesser

Anton Lesser

Reverend Woollett

Claire Ashton

Claire Ashton

Recital Visitor

Samuel West

Samuel West

Geoffrey Ponting

Esther Coles

Esther Coles

Woman in Soho

Dominic Cooke

Dominic Cooke

-

Rasmus Hardiker

Rasmus Hardiker

Waiter Two

Adrian Scarborough

Adrian Scarborough

Lionel Mayhew

Ty Hurley

Ty Hurley

Wigmore Concert Attendee

George Walker

George Walker

-

Martin Bratanov

Martin Bratanov

Blues Club

Bebe Cave

Bebe Cave

Ruth Ponting

Mike Ray

Mike Ray

Cricket Spectator

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan

Florence Ponting

John Kinory

John Kinory

Oxford academic

Martin Bassindale

Martin Bassindale

Harold Mather

Teresa Orlando

Teresa Orlando

-

Tony Lucken

Tony Lucken

-

Nadia Townsend

Nadia Townsend

Older Chloe

Anna Burgess

Anna Burgess

Anne Mayhew

Mia Burgess

Mia Burgess

Harriet Mayhew

Simon North

Simon North

-

Bronte Carmichael

Bronte Carmichael

Young Chloe Morrell

Caroline Garnell

Caroline Garnell

Audience Member Wigmore Hall Concert

Nigel Eaton

Nigel Eaton

Employee in suit

Philip Labey

Philip Labey

Bob

Terenia Edwards

Terenia Edwards

Tina

Ben Harrison

Ben Harrison

-

Roseanna Leathley

Roseanna Leathley

Dana

Imogen Daines

Imogen Daines

Jenny

David Cradduck

David Cradduck

Train Driver

Andy Burse

Andy Burse

Waiter One

John Ramm

John Ramm

Postman Terry

Barney Iley

Barney Iley

Timothy

Mark Donald

Mark Donald

Charles Morrell

Molly Miles

Molly Miles

Sonia

Victoria Hamnett

Victoria Hamnett

Elsbeth

Marianne Cecil

Marianne Cecil

Young Florence

Daniel Boyd

Daniel Boyd

Jack

Christopher Rob Bowen

Christopher Rob Bowen

Cricket Captain

Toby Dantzic

Toby Dantzic

Bridal Shop Assistant

Claudia Jolly

Claudia Jolly

Jane

Esther Yoo

Esther Yoo

Violinist

Marie Devautour

Marie Devautour

-

Cydney Uffindell-Phillips

Cydney Uffindell-Phillips

-

Facts

  1. 1

    Sam Mendes originally signed on to direct the project with Focus Features, but production ceased after pre-production over-ran.

  2. 2

    Principal photography began on October 17, 2016, with filming locations including the actual Chesil Beach in Dorset.

Details

GenresDrama, Romance
Runtime1h 50 mins
Released on19 Jan 2018
Languageen
Produced InUnited Kingdom
Advertisement

Reviews

wizzardss

7/10

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.

All Trailers

Official Trailer

On Chesil Beach FAQs

The directors of On Chesil Beach are Dominic Cooke, George Walker, Rowena Ladbury, Ben Harrison, Marie Devautour, Teresa Orlando, and Cydney Uffindell-Phillips.

Advertisement