#TIFF17: “ON CHESIL BEACH”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

On Chesil Beach is a character study of young lovers, Florence (Saoirse Ronan) and Edward (Billy Howle), on their wedding night in 1962 England.

Ian McEwan does a superb job of adapting his minimal dialogue novel into a conversing script. He maneuvers characters’ inner commentary into new scenes with revealing colloquies, creating two complex characters. The incomparable Ronan is mesmerizing to watch as Florence. Ronan embodies both Florence’s comfortable leadership while playing the violin and her uncontrollable fear of consummating her marriage effortlessly. And Howle has a breakout performance as Edward, fluently expressing embarrassment, anger, happiness and love.

On Chesil Beach screens at TIFF on Sept. 7 at Winter Garden Theatre at 5 PM and Sept. 8 at TBLB1 at 12:45 PM.