On Chesil Beach (film)

In 1962, Edward Mayhew and Florence Ponting first meet after graduating from their respective universities. He is a historian at University College, London and rock-and-roll lover; she a classical violinist at Oxford with her own quartet. They fall in love quickly, meet each other's families, and eventually decide to marry, despite their different backgrounds and social status.

Florence is secretly anxious about the wedding due to her fears about sex, but there is no one with whom she can discuss it. On Edward and Florence's honeymoon at Chesil Beach, their backgrounds and temperaments come to the fore: Edward's quickness to anger and occasional physical belligerence, and Florence's unspoken relationship with her father, who obviously dominates her. They are both inexperienced sexually, and their first awkward attempt ends quickly and prematurely, and things get worse when Florence’s trauma of being molested by her father is triggered. She flees their hotel room and runs along the beach. Edward follows and angrily confronts her. Unable to say what is wrong, she tells him that although she loves him deeply and wants to be with him for life, she can only be a platonic wife and will not object to him going with other women. Edward angrily rejects the idea and the couple part ways. Ultimately, their marriage is annulled.

Thirteen years later, a young girl enters the record shop that Edward now runs. He realises that she is Florence's daughter, and afterwards painfully reminisces with his girlfriend and friends about his lost love. Much later, in 2007, Edward, still single, overhears on the radio that Florence's quartet – including her husband – will be giving a farewell concert after 45 years of professional success. He attends and sits in the third row, as he had once promised to do. When their eyes meet, he smiles, and both of them shed silent tears.

• Saoirse Ronan as Florence Ponting
• Billy Howle as Edward Mayhew
• Emily Watson as Violet Ponting
• Anne-Marie Duff as Marjorie Mayhew
• Samuel West as Geoffrey Ponting
• Adrian Scarborough as Lionel Mayhew
• Bebe Cave as Ruth Ponting
• Anton Lesser as Reverend Woollett
• Mark Donald as Charles Morrell
• Tamara Lawrance as Molly
• Anna Burgess as Anne Mayhew
• Mia Burgess as Harriet Mayhew

In 2010, Sam Mendes had signed on to direct the film with Focus Features developing. Carey Mulligan was in talks to star as Florence Ponting.^[4] Shooting was delayed when Mendes' Skyfall went into production and Focus Features pulled out of development. In 2011, the film went back in to pre-production, this time with Mike Newell directing and Sam Mendes producing through his Neal Street Productions banner with StudioCanal and BBC Films. Later, production ceased after pre-production over-ran and the producers got cold feet.^[5]

In February 2016, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan was to play Florence Ponting.^[6][7] Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley produced the film under their Number 9 Films banner.^[7] In May 2016, during the Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that BBC Films would co-produce the film.^[8] In August 2016, Billy Howle joined the cast as the male lead.^[9] In October 2016, it was announced that Thorsten Schumacher's new film and TV outfit Rocket Science had come on board to complete international sales.^[10]

Principal photography began on 17 October 2016, on Chesil Beach, Dorset, England. Other filming locations included London, Oxford and Pinewood Studios in England.

Lionsgate acquired the distribution rights for the United Kingdom in October 2016.^[11] On Chesil Beach had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2017.^[12] Bleecker Street acquired the U.S. distribution rights in October 2017.^[13]

On Chesil Beach was released in the UK on 18 May 2018.^[14][2] Originally scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on 15 June 2018, the date was pushed up to 18 May 2018.^[15][16]