On Chesil Beach - A Movie Review

Image courtesy of Transmission Films.

Adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestselling novel, On Chesil Beach is a drama about the courtship and romance of a young couple in the early 1960's who ultimately discover, during their short-lived marriage, that they are unsuitable for each other in the most unexpected of ways.

The brilliant Saoirse Ronan plays Florence Ponting, a music graduate from a privileged background, opposite Billy Howle as the earnest but quick-tempered Edward Mayhew.  They meet and fall in love despite the differences in their temperaments and upbringing, never quite looking deeply enough to find out the real reasons for each other's motivations and behaviours.  

This oversight from the newlyweds rears its awkward, ugly head the afternoon of their wedding day as they are sharing supper and what eventually turns out to be an uncomfortable and fumbling attempt at physical intimacy.  Neither character really displays any real tenderness or delight in their partner's nearness and vulnerability, despite their earlier declarations of affection, and the audience is left aghast and unable to look away.  There are some interesting historical references to the scant information available about sex generally to people back then, which elicits some sympathy for the young couple, but it does not fully explain what occurs that fateful afternoon.

We do get a glimpse of what possibly motivates Florence's revulsion with physical intimacy, however, what empathy we may feel for her situation is moderated to some degree by her well meaning but dismissive attempt to fix the problem.  Understandably, Edward is left humiliated and confused although his tactless, over compensating attempts to prove himself coupled with his occasional outbursts of temper don't induce much sympathy from the audience for his predicament.  

As the final scenes play out, we are left contemplating what might have been if Edward had simply been more patient and less demanding and Florence willing to share her experiences honestly with the person that she loved.

On Chesil Beach is now showing at selected cinemas near you.

A Film That Every Woman Should Watch

Mary Shelley - A Movie Review

Before I went to see Haifaa Al-Mansour's new movie, Mary Shelley, I had some idea that this would not be your usual 19th century drama.  As the author of the quintessential Gothic horror novel, Frankenstein, there is no mistaking Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin as a very modern, young woman in her pursuit of a most unconventional life.  

From the outset, we see Mary (Elle Fanning) refuse to follow the expectations of her step-mother, Mary Jane Clairmont (Joanne Froggatt), while she is particularly close to her half-sister, Claire Clairmont (Bel Powley), and in many ways her philosopher father, William Godwin (Stephen Dillane).  We are witness to her passionate relationship with poet Percy Shelley (Douglas Booth), and the personal tragedies, betrayals, and professional challenges she experiences and overcomes in order to control her own destiny.  Mary's determination and drive to live life on her own terms is particularly evident in the most domestic of scenes when Mary tells her step-mother that she doesn't give an iota about her reputation even after the revelation that Percy is still married.  

Although I feel that more time should have been spent on the development and creation of Frankenstein, Fanning's solid performance as Mary, the quality of the period details, and Tom Sturridge as the eccentric and volatile Lord Byron make up for the lack of depth given to this part of the movie.

Mary Shelley will be playing at selected cinemas from Thursday, 5 July 2018.