How awkward can first love be on a wedding day?
Ian McEwansa国际传媒檚 screen adaptation of his own novel On Chesil Beach, shows it can be plenty awkward when newlyweds Florence Ponting, played by Saoirse Ronan and Edward Mayhew, played by Billy Howle, settle into a dapper hotel to consummate a relationship neither truly understands.
Itsa国际传媒檚 England in 1962 and humble history student Edward Mayhew has fallen in love with talented young musician Florence Ponting, whose family brandishes a more affluent lifestyle than his own.
The obvious social and relationship challenges seeping from the mores of class and upbringing arensa国际传媒檛 anything we havensa国际传媒檛 seen before. However Forencesa国际传媒檚 parents, played beautifully by Samuel West and Emily Watson, provide the dissonance without feeling trite.
First-time film director Dominic Cookesa国际传媒檚 deft storytelling crafts the foundation of their budding relationship through flashbacks, each scene a subtle brick layered quietly as their relationship grows. Until you begin to realize the world hesa国际传媒檚 built around Edward and Florence, has trapped them both.
Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Atonement) is well, Saoirse Ronan. The words sa国际传媒榰p-and-comingsa国际传媒� no longer apply and the Irish-American actor has not only arrived, shesa国际传媒檚 long left many behind as one of the best young actors on the screen. To say she steals scenes as the newlywedsa国际传媒檚 relationship unfurls is a disservice. She is the scene, every one of them and thatsa国际传媒檚 no disrespect to Howle (Dunkirk), whose performance holds itsa国际传媒檚 own walking a fine dramatic line without being overly earnest.
McEwansa国际传媒檚 (Atonement, The Good Son) screenplay reads quietly, the writing favouring muted hues, over the intensity of bold primary colours. While some may cry sacrilege for watching the film before reading the novel or say the book has a lot to live up to before reading it, but I say that anyway.
On Chesil Beach begins with a conversation between two newlyweds strolling along a beautiful rocky shoreline. sa国际传媒淭his is the emotional punch,sa国际传媒� Edward Mayhew says to Florence only moments in.
He may as well have been talking about the film.
4/5
releases June 1.
