On Chesil Beach (HBO)

About On Chesil Beach (HBO)

'On Chesil Beach' is a 2018 drama film directed by Dominic Cooke. Adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestseller novel of the same name, the movie revolves around the story of a young couple, Florence and Edward, who find their idyllic love story threatened by societal pressure and sexual repression leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Dominic Cooke and produced by Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley. With its screenplay by Ian McEwan himself, the film does a commendable job of capturing the nuances and subtexts of the novel. The production went great lengths to recreate the 1960s' atmosphere authentically.

Actors

• Saoirse Ronan as Florence Ponting: A young woman navigating the societal and sexual pressures of the 1960s. Ronan successfully portrays Florence's discomfort and vulnerability.
• Billy Howle as Edward Mayhew: A young man deeply in love, Howle conveys Edward's hopes, frustrations, and fears, with great depth and sensitivity.
• Emily Watson and Samuel West: As Florence's parents, their characters add additional complexity to the story.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is an adaptation of Ian McEwan's 2007 Booker Prize-nominated novella of the same name.
• McEwan wrote the screenplay himself, marking his second screenplay after 'The Good Son' in 1993.
• Saoirse Ronan had previously starred in the adaptation of McEwan's novel 'Atonement' in 2007.

Quotes

• "This is the emotional punch of the whole story: They were so in love but they had no language for it." - Billy Howle
• "This is how the entire course of a life can be changed - by doing nothing." - Saoirse Ronan as Florence.

Music, Soundtrack

• The movie has a highly emotional and evocative soundtrack, composed by Dan Jones. The soundtrack does a great job of complementing the intense emotions and dramatic situations of the film.
• The music played by Florence in the film, including works by Schubert and Mozart, reflects her passion for classical music and her aspirations as a violinist.