On Chesil Beach

On Chesil Beach is a drama adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestselling novel.

On Chesil Beach Opening in Theaters on May 18

The drama centers on a young couple of drastically different backgrounds in the summer of 1962. Following the pair through their idyllic courtship, the film explores sex and the societal pressure that can accompany physical intimacy, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Anne-Marie Duff, Adrian Scarborough, Emily Watson, and Samuel West.

It is the summer of 1962 and England is still a year away from the start of Beatlemania, the sexual revolution, and the Swinging Sixties. Florence Ponting (Saoirse Ronan), born into a prosperous, conservative home presided over by her overbearing father (Samuel West) and mother (Emily Watson), falls in love with Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle) whose chaotic but loving upbringing by a schoolteacher father (Adrian Scarborough) and brain-damaged artist mother (Anne-Marie Duff) stands in stark contrast. Florence is a talented, ambitious violinist with a string quartet and an Oxford degree. Edward has graduated from the University of Central London and aims to become an author. On the night of their wedding, they find themselves in a dull, formal honeymoon hotel at Chesil Beach on the Dorset coast.

As they dine in their room, their conversation becomes stilted and nervous as they both anticipate finally consummating their marriage, a prospect Edward welcomes and Florence inexplicably dreads.

Distressed by Edward’s awkward advances, Florence dashes out of the hotel with Edward in pursuit. On a remote part of Chesil Beach, the couple’s profound differences are revealed. The unspoken tensions between them erode their bond of trust leading one to make a startling decision that has lifelong consequences for them both. Adapted for the screen by Ian McEwan from his novel, On Chesil Beach is directed by Dominic Cooke (“The Hollow Crown”).

It stars Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Brooklyn, Hanna, Atonement), Billy Howle (The Sense of an Ending), Ann-Marie Duff (The Magdalene Sisters, Suffragette), Adrian Scarborough (Gosford Park, The History Boys), Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves, Hilary and Jackie) and Samuel West (Darkest Hour, Howards End). Producers are Elizabeth Karlsen (Carol) and Stephen Woolley (Their Finest). Executive producers are Joe Oppenheimer (Victoria & Abdul, London Road), Beth Pattinson (Brooklyn, The Children Act), Norman Merry (The Nice Guys, Jawbone), Peter Hampden (The Limehouse Golem, Churchill), Ian McEwan, Thorsten Schumacher (Brooklyn, Carol) Chiara Gelardin (Carol, Brooklyn) and Zygi Kamasa (Churchill, London Has Fallen).

Co-producer of On Chesil Beach is Caroline Levy (Ex Machina, An Education). Sean Bobbitt (12 Years A Slave, The Place Beyond the Pines, Shame) is director of photography.

The production designer is Suzie Davies (Mr. Turner) and Nick Fenton (The Selfish Giant, Submarine) edited the film. Dan Jones (“The Hollow Crown,” Lady Macbeth) composed the music. The costume designer is Keith Madden (Viceroy’s House, Mr. Holmes).