Love Doesn’t Conquer all On Chesil Beach

I’m a sucker for a romantic period piece, so I when Bleecker Street and BBC Fils released On Chesil Beach…let’s just say I was more than eager to check it out.

On Chesil Bach is a story about two young people from different classes who fall in love and the complexity it brings as the relationship deepens.

Even though the pacing at the start felt a bit sluggish, the creative cinematically beautiful wide shots and use of flashback to convey the story of these awkward love birds was quite effectively utilized.  There were so many issues dealing with repressed sexuality, mental illness, heartbreak, battle of the classes and unrequited love.  We have Ian McEwan to thank for that fluidity.  A style he became know for with his first screenplay “Atonement.”

Using laughter as a tool to trigger memory flashback was brilliant, as were the seamless movement between scenes.  Music was a whole other character used to propel the story and is particularly noticeable when “The Thrill is Gone” is played after the wedding night goes terribly awry.

Coming off an Oscar nominated performance in “Lady Bird,”  Saoirse Ronan proves once again why we love to see her on the silver screen.  Graceful , compelling and completely believable with every word, she gives this uptight yer curious musician a breath of life that is enchanting.

On Chesil Beach hit theaters on May 18th and will be shown as part of the Seattle Film Festival on May 25th.