Director:Â Dominic Cooke
Cast:Â Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Emily Watson, Anne-Marie Duff, Samuel West, Adrian Scarborough, Bebe Cave
Rating: 15
Running time: 110 mins
Release Date:Â 18/05/2018
Saoirse Ronan returns to the same territory that got her initial notice with another adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel, ON CHESIL BEACH, another period drama set slightly later than her turn in Joe Wright’s ATONEMENT a decade earlier. McEwan has adapted his Booker Prize-winning novel for this film version. The film premiered September 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The story opens in 1962 and focuses on the recent marriage of Edward (Billy Howle) and Florence (Ronan). Edward is a graduate student of history, whilst Florence is part of a string quartet. Their stay in a beach-side hotel in the Dorset location prompts playful mirth from the waiting staff when they serve dinner to them, but before long, the cracks begin to appear in their seemingly premature union, with hidden emotional issues beginning to bubble to the surface on both sides….
If you are familiar with the other adaptations to the big-screen of McEwan’s work, like ENDURING LOVE and ATONEMENT, you will be aware that these films and stories are as much about dysfunctional love and the interpretation of love as they are about the romance.
McEwan was also responsible for the screenplay for the controversial Macaulay Culkin film THE GOOD SON (1993), which was about as contrasting a role for him as Kevin in the HOME ALONE films. This was adapted from a novel by Todd Strasser.
ON CHESIL BEACH is a thoughtful and insightful movie, which has as much to say about the pressures and realities of young love. Whilst it may not provoke the same level of shock and revelation as ATONEMENT, there is much to appreciate and acknowledge here, given that it plays out more of a slow-burning story arc.
Performance-wise, supporting cast turns, especially from Anne-Marie Duff (who continues to prove her talent as one of the most versatile British Actresses to grace the screen) in her pivotal role here as Edward’s troubled and uncertain mother; and an electric leading performance from Ronan (whose work gets better and better with each film) elevate ON CHESIL BEACH to top-notch entertainment.
Compared to BROOKLYN or LADY BIRD, ON CHESIL BEACH may split audiences expecting similar fare from Ronan, but this is an admirable drama and one that should provoke discussion amongst audiences and fans of her work.
