Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful themes of sexuality in book-based romantic drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
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On Chesil Beach
What's the Story?
In ON CHESIL BEACH, it's 1962 in England, and newlyweds Florence (Saoirse Ronan) and Edward (Billy Howle) are in their honeymoon hotel, overlooking the gravel-covered Chesil Beach. They flash back to their various times together: their first meeting, memorable conversations, and interactions with each other's families. They're very much in love, but there's an unspoken tension in the room around the consummation of the marriage. Florence has rebuffed all of Edward's pre-marriage advances, and they're both nervous and inexperienced. Their first attempt at sex goes badly, and Florence runs out the door in panic and terror, down to the beach. Edward follows; they argue. Florence makes a proposal, and Edward makes a choice -- but is it one he'll regret?
Is It Any Good?
The material -- playing with time, innocence, and sexuality -- is strong, and the actors are game, but the movie is too long and relies on too much talk; it misses a chance to visualize the drama. For On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan (Atonement) adapted his own 2007 novel, and the central idea is powerful. Without any knowledge of sexuality or access to such knowledge, how is a young couple supposed to learn anything about each other's bodies? Why is there so much pressure on marriage and things being perfect?
McEwan explores these themes with emotional resonance, but the movie never moves beyond serviceable. Aside from the use of the fluid flashbacks, director Dominic Cooke keeps the action mainly in rooms and conveyed mainly through dialogue. Twin scenes on the gravel-covered beach might have been cinematically powerful expressions, but instead they're broken up into functional cuts and softened with medium focus. The movie eventually starts feeling long; two epilogues, with the actors slathered in age makeup, don't help much. But there's still much to admire about On Chesil Beach, and it's worth a look -- and worth discussing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how On Chesil Beach addresses sex. What do you think the movie is trying to say about it? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How are drinking and smoking portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Is the time period a factor?
How could communication have helped the couple in the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 18, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : August 7, 2018
- Cast : Saoirse Ronan , Billy Howle , Anne-Marie Duff
- Director : Dominic Cooke
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Bleecker Street
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sexual content and nudity
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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