On Chesil Beach (2017) is a British drama film directed by Dominic Cooke, with a screenplay by Ian McEwan, based on his own 2007 novel of the same name, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Set in 1962, the film delicately explores the complexities of love, sexual intimacy, and the burdens of societal expectations, all within the confines of a single night on a secluded beach in England.
The story follows the emotional and psychological turmoil of a young couple, Florence Ponting (played by Saoirse Ronan) and Edward Mayhew (played by Billy Howle), as they embark on their wedding night, only to find their dreams of romantic fulfillment shattered by insecurities, misunderstandings, and deeply ingrained fears.
The film’s exploration of desire, repression, and the vulnerability of human relationships makes it a poignant meditation on how the past can shape the present, and how intimate acts can reveal the deepest emotional truths. Through its sensitive portrayal of the couple’s personal conflicts, On Chesil Beach challenges traditional representations of romance, offering a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of the complexities of human sexuality and the consequences of unspoken expectations.
On Chesil Beach takes place primarily over the course of a single evening, as newlyweds Florence and Edward arrive at a seaside hotel on Chesil Beach, Dorset, for their honeymoon. Both are in their early twenties, full of hope and nervous excitement, but both also carry their own emotional baggage. Florence, an accomplished violinist, is intelligent, poised, and more than a little reserved.
She comes from an upper-middle-class background and has been raised with a strong sense of propriety and social decorum, especially regarding issues of sexuality. Edward, on the other hand, is more carefree, though he also carries his own set of insecurities. He is from a working-class background, and while he is eager to consummate their marriage, he is less sophisticated in matters of emotional depth and sexual intimacy.
