A drama, based on the novel by Ian McEwan, following an unworldly couple's wedding night.
A decent adaptation of McEwan’s excellent novella. Forget Fifty Shades – this is sex to make your cheeks blush.
An opulent, well crafted and acted tale of emotional repression that captures the head more than the heart.
It’s a nuanced and very well observed study of bad sex in which tiny accidents and misunderstandings threaten to scupper a marriage almost before it has started.
Takes a focused, intense and awkward novel and attempts to retool it for mass consumption.
Ronan and Howle’s wonderfully understated performances keep us watching but it was Mcewan’s prose that made this story sing.
It’s a shame this handsome adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel eventually gives in to convention.
While the unravelling of a marriage is compelling viewing, the clumsy jumping through time and lack of ambiguity in the storytelling makes On Chesil Beach forgettable cinema.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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