On Chesil Beach

[prettyxcool]

Really liked this film, the beauty of it is mesmerising. Very stylish set in the 60's. A good story, well acted, and Chesil Beach is just stunning and classic.

The love story is told in flashback, Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle as the young couple are well matched. However, the close ups of Billy Howle seems to make him as unattractive as possible, and then he must be the worst kisser! The story of two young newly weds on their honeymoon, both virgins, as they try disastrously to consummate their marriage, is all too topical in relation to the #metoo movement, as the husband expects marital sex as a right, without understanding the feelings of his wife.

I did not see that twist at the end coming, which we learnt from the Q&A with the director, that was not in the book. Adapted from Ian McEwan's book, the film had to be padded out quite a bit because the book was quite short.

8/10

Saw this at Everyman Belsize Park. Used to love this cinema, but what have they done to the lovely seating which all Everyman cinema enjoys. They have changed the comfortable seating to leather seats, they are so hard, and the backs of which are so upright, it is really uncomfortable, and make a noise when you move slightly. Also, the leather has already split on the seat! They have also added more rows and less room between the seats. It feels quite cramp. Was not impressed with the facilities either. There are just two ladies toilets and on this evening, one was out of order, and is inside the cinema, so if the cinema is not ready to go in, you are unable to use the loos, but have to use the disabled one outside, so a long queue outside by both male and female, while waiting to go in. Not impressed. Cannot remember it being so bad.

[RevKeith39]

Looking forward to this one. Read the book a while back and am interested to see how they film the pivotal scene without controversy.

[mazzaholmes]

Although the performances by the entire cast wer great, I found the story quite hard to follow. Not only because the film kept moving around the timeline, but it also felt rather slow to me.

The sexual content made me feel quite awkward at times but on the other hand extremely authentic.

But the end of the film where the story jump forward in time was absolutely fantastic and moving.

A very sweet tale!

[raj101]

hmm ok i guess but meh. That guy was a bit fugly, you get his zits all close up on the small screen. Apparently being fugly in these movies means you arent upper class. Utter crap, f you spend any time at these redbrick unis you'll see that the toffs are the ugly inbred ones.

This could easily have been a 2 part BBC drama, probably better split like that because it drags a little with no real hooks. Still a wellmade period piece worth a giggle at least for the posh oiks convinced they are having a right topper time at oxford punting and playing music. And the pitfalls of early marriage before reaching maturity are a decent lesson to come away with, though I do find it all a bit emo.

They aged the actors well, you can literally see the acquired skin damage.
3 stars.