On the Sea (film)
2025 British drama film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On the Sea is a 2025 British drama film written and directed by Helen Walsh. The film stars Barry Ward, Lorne MacFadyen, and Henry Lawfull.
- David A. Hughes
- David Moores
- Chris Clark
- Mike Goodridge
- Barry Ward
- Lorne MacFadyen
- Henry Lawfull
- Celyn Jones
| On the Sea | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Helen Walsh |
| Written by | Helen Walsh |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Sam Goldie |
| Edited by | Ricardo Saraiva |
| Music by | Felix Rösch |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Yellow Affair |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The film premiered in competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it was selected for the Sean Connery Prize.[1]
Premise
Set in a remote fishing community in North Wales, the film follows Jack, a mussel harvester who expects his son to continue the family trade. Tensions arise when his son resists this expectation, and the arrival of a new deckhand further complicates relationships within the community. As personal and familial dynamics unfold, the story explores themes of identity, desire, and belonging.
Cast
- Barry Ward as Jack
- Henry Lawfull as Tom
- Lorne MacFadyen as Daniel
- Liz White
- Celyn Jones
- Danny Webb
Production
On the Sea was written and directed by Helen Walsh, whose previous work includes The Violators (2016). The film was loosely inspired by a real-life individual known to Walsh. The project developed further when Walsh incorporated the setting of mussel harvesting communities in North Wales, which informed the film's narrative and themes.[2]
The film was produced on a budget of under £1 million and shot with a small crew using a scaled-down production approach. International sales for the film are handled by The Yellow Affair.[3]
Release
On the Sea had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August 2025.[2]
It had its North America premiere at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival.[4]
Reception
Critical reception
In a review for Film Threat, critic Alan Ng described On the Sea as "pretty typical" of coming-out narratives, criticizing its romantic development as lacking buildup and stating that it "just feels dated and done before."[5]
In a review for Variety, the film was described as a character-driven drama with a strong sense of place, noting its performances and its portrayal of a late-in-life coming-out story with emotional restraint and realism.[6]
Nikki Baughan of Screen Daily described the film as a character-driven drama focused on identity and relationships within a traditional coastal community, highlighting its restrained storytelling, performances, and use of setting to shape the narrative.[7]