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On Chesil Beach
Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle play a young, married couple struggling to physically connect in this sensitive adaptation of Ian McEwan’s acclaimed novel.
Director: Dominic Cooke
Overview
In the early 1960s, a young couple on their honeymoon struggle to physically connect in this sensitive adaptation of Ian McEwan’s acclaimed short novel. As Florence and Edward settle down for their first dinner as a married couple, a nervous energy fills the air. But while it might appear the fledgling husband and wife are suffering from wedding night jitters, as the evening unfolds it becomes apparent something else is creating a divide. Awkwardly grasping for the connection they know they share, the pair recall moments from their lives, both together and apart, as the inevitability of physical intimacy looms ever-closer.
Impeccably adapted for the screen by McEwan himself, Dominic Cooke’s quietly heart-breaking debut is a work of subtle restraint, capturing the intricacies of the source material with grace and delicacy. As ever, Saoirse Ronan shines as the hesitant young bride, ably supported by rising star Billy Howle, both of whom express so much, even when their characters struggle to find the words. And indeed, for a film in which many emotions remain unspoken, and countless feelings are left unsaid, this melancholic love story speaks profoundly about the fragility of human relationships and the destructive nature of silence.
strong sex, sex referencesRelated
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