ON the sea
Written & Directed by: Helen Walsh (The Violators, The Gathering)
Cast: Barry Ward (Bad Sisters), Lorne MacFadyen (Vigil, Starstruck), Liz White (Unforgotten, Pride, Wild Bills), Henry Lawfull, Celyn Jones, Danny Webb
Produced by: David A. Hughes, David Moores
Production Company: Red Union Films
Release year: 2025
Country: UK
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Status: Completed
Duration: 111 min
Synopsis:
Jack has been married to Maggie for over half his life. He works as Hand Raker on the mussel beds in North Wales with his younger brother, Dyfan, and Dyfan's three sons. Jack has always assumed that his own boy, Tom, will join the family business on leaving school but Tom's resistance to follow in his footsteps causes familial tension. Tensions are further inflamed by the arrival of an itinerant deckhand, Daniel, who makes known his feelings for Jack. In this remote, rural community where life revolves around Church and fishery, Jack is faced with an impossible dilemma. On The Sea is a beautiful, sensual and at times, tragic exploration of masculinity, place and desire.
“On the Sea combines astute observational writing with powerful performances and evocative cinematography…”
“sex scenes are frank, sensitive and shot through with genuine feeling; buoyed by Felix Rosch’s lilting score”
Nikki Baughan - Screendaily
“Helen Walsh’s On the Sea is a masterclass in powerful storytelling”
”…stellar performances from Ward and MacFadyen, actors who share some of the same intensity and gravity that make Barry Keoghan such a draw”
Barry Didcock - The Herald
“A Stirring, Windblown Romance”
”…finely drawn, weather-heavy sophomore feature from British novelist-turned-filmmaker Helen Walsh”
”… it traves the expected, anguished coming-out arc with rare honesty and frank, bristly sensual abandon - both actors committing with equal parts vulnerable yearning and terse emotional avoidance”
”On the Sea finds poignancy in complication and compromise rather than easy, empowering short cuts to a happy ending”
Guy Lodge - Variety
“Like a slow-burning fuse Helen Walsh’s second feature finds its strenght in the subtlety of the writing and the power of the understated performances, in particular the central duo of Barry Ward and Lorne MacFadyen”
”…the film finds a note of hope and optimism and demonstrates how a good deal of compassion and understanding can emerge from the confrontation of someone’s worst fears”
Eye for Film - Richard Mowe
FESTIVALS
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 Competition
