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On the Sea

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01:59

On the Sea

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• Romance
• Drama

• 2025
• Helen Walsh
• 111 mins
• 15

Summary

Jack is happily married to childhood sweetheart Maggie and works hard as a hand raker on the local mussel beds. Temporary worker Daniel arrives and is unabashed about his romantic interest in Jack. Reciprocated desire threatens to destroy everything Jack has worked hard to build.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

James Mottram

Love and repressed sexuality are all caught in the net of this authentic-feeling drama set against the dramatic backdrop of the northern Welsh coastline. Married to Maggie (Liz White), mussel farmer Jack (Barry Ward, Jimmy's Hall) finds relief from the difficulties of his work when he meets Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen), a 30-something drifter whom he soon employs. Their mutual attraction grows and passions flourish, but it leaves both men conflicted about what is to come. A return to the status quo or new horizons? If the overly familiar plotline recalls the likes of Brokeback Mountain and God's Own Country, writer/director Helen Walsh makes it entirely her own. The stormy backdrop, the tight-knit community and two intense turns from Ward and MacFadyen lend this brooding drama something vivid. Walsh's background as a novelist also serves her well, as she turns the camera on the interior lives of these working-class men, forced to contend with volcanic - and unexpected - emotions far removed from their worldview.

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7.0/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameJackBarry WardDanielLorne MacFadyenMaggieLiz WhiteTomHenry LawfullDyfanCelyn JonesBernieDanny WebbRhysCallum HymersBillySheldon JonesIoanTristan JonesFinnKieran Roberts

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Crew

rolenameDirectorHelen WalshWriterHelen WalshProducerDavid A. HughesProducerDavid MooresComposerFelix RöschDirector of photographySam GoldieEditorRicardo SaraivaCastingAlex Johnson

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Details

Theatrical distributor

Verve Pictures

Released on

2026-07-24

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, swearing, sex scenes, drug abuse

Formats

Colour

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