The Beach

Synopsis

Three couples in their thirties have for years shared beach houses and summer vacations along the New England coast.

This year, Ben's wife has left him and the vacationing group is joined by Sara's widowed sister Elaine.

The specter of divorce causes each remaining couple to examine their marriage.

Sara chooses this moment to ask Tom to father the second child she has long wanted.

Tom is troubled by Elaine's vitality and sexuality; she represents all he might gain if he left marriage and fatherhood behind.

He does make a bold but finally unsatisfactory break from the group.

Harry and Julia, whose embrace of ordinary life allows them to accept the loss of passion in their marriage, and Ben ultimately demonstrate the real potential for growth and renewal.