Jack has been married to Maggie for over half his life. He works as a Hand Raker on the mussel beds in North Wales alongside 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 creates 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.
Staff Review from Nigel
"I really liked On the Sea. Maybe partly because it was filmed around Amlwch on Anglesey, not far from where I come from in Holyhead. I know that landscape and coastline and I thought the film used it really well. It wasn’t just there to look beautiful. The sea, the weather and the bleakness of the place seemed to belong to the story.
The story of Jack, an older married man who has hidden being gay for most of his life, was what interested me most. He has a wife, a son and this whole life he has built, but underneath it there is something he has never been able to admit. I kept thinking about how many men of his generation must have done exactly that. Married, had children and just got on with it because being openly gay wasn’t really an option for them.
I thought the acting was great, especially Barry Ward as Jack and Liz White as his wife Maggie. I liked Maggie’s story as much as Jack’s. She is shocked and hurt when she finds out, but eventually there is an understanding between them. Their marriage wasn’t suddenly made meaningless because Jack was gay. They had still shared a life and loved each other.
The Anglesey locations were brilliant. They weren’t made to look pretty for the sake of it. It looked like the North Wales coast actually looks — beautiful, grey, exposed and sometimes a bit miserable.
And I really liked that it didn’t give us a nice happy ending. I actually think the film would have been weaker if Jack had simply come out, found happiness and everything was suddenly alright. It isn’t.
There are consequences to hiding who you are for most of your life and you can’t get those years back.
That sadness stayed with me after the film finished. I think that’s probably why I liked it so much."
You can download our monthly brochure as a PDF, where you’ll find all the information about the cinema, our screenings, and special events. Simply click the button below.
Download Our September Brochure!
You can also sign up to our newsletter. We will email you weekly listings every Sunday and the following month's listing on the 20th of every month (a full week or so before the brochure is available!).
Note: If you like a paper copy of our programme, you can collect from the cinema and many shops and businesses in Tywyn or in the following places:
Machynlleth
Dolgellau
Aberdyfi
You can also save our programme to your computer or mobile device - simply click the image below to download it.
This summer, we have a special mission for the little ones! An activity book containing a variety of tasks.
Complete all missions and collect a stamp for each one. Collect all 8 stamps and win a prize!
Ask for a copy of the activity book next time your visit the cinema, and start your mission!
Alternatively, you can download a digital copy to print at home.
NOTE TO PARENTS – if you could possibly come to collect stamps and prizes while films are playing, (rather than the 45 minutes before a film starts or half an hour afterwards) that would be much appreciated!!
Below, you will also find all the films and special events for families.
Do you love films, and love talking about films? Then why not join our Magic Lantern Film Club!
Our Film Club is a regular chance for people who love films to get together to discuss them.
Every month, we pick a few titles from our main programme, and meet to chat about it after the screening. The bar will remain open for those who fancy a drink.
We welcome anyone with a passion for films, from enthusiasts to aficionados or even someone who knows nothing about films except they enjoy watching them! We hold friendly and informal conversations, while also providing some extra information about the film, the cast and the director where relevant.
If you are on Facebook, you can join our Film Club Group. We use this group to learn more about what type of films you like the most, for sharing additional insights about the films we choose, as well as any suggestions you may have.
You can also email us at lanternfilmclub@gmail.com.
Scroll down to check out our upcoming meetings. You’ll also find information in our printed programme and in the advert that plays before every screening.
Supported by Film Hub Wales as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery.
Cefnogir gan Ganolfan Ffilm Cymru fel rhan o Rwydwaith Cynulleidfa Ffilm y BFI (FAN), a wedi wnaed yn bosib gan y Loteri Genedlaethol.
Sign up for our Welsh Language newsletter, scroll to the bottom of this page!
We’re thrilled to launch a brand-new season of Welsh language films and events in collaboration with We Learn Welsh – Iaith i Bawb. This year-long project celebrates and strengthens our connections with Welsh speakers and learners, both here in our community and further afield.
The FILM part of the season 'Sgrin a Sgwrs' is supported by Ffilm Cymru through their Film Exhibitor Fund, which comes from the National Lottery via the Welsh Government and the Arts Council of Wales. For the next year there will be at least 2 screenings a month of a film made in Welsh with hosted opportunities to learn and chat about the film afterwards.
Our programme will showcase a rich mix of storytelling – from animations and documentaries to shorts and feature films – including the eagerly awaited Tanau’r Lloer (Fires of the Moon), premiering this November.
Are you a Welsh speaker or learner keen to get involved? Do you belong to a Welsh language group that would like to collaborate on an event? If so, please get in touch with us or drop by the box office for a chat with Sara. We’d love you to be part of this journey!
To keep up with the latest Welsh language screenings and events at the Magic Lantern, don’t forget to sign up for our new mailing list with the form below!
Rydym wrth ein bodd yn lansio ein tymor newydd sbon o ffilmiau a digwyddiadau Cymraeg mewn cydweithrediad gyda Iaith i Bawb - We Learn Welsh. Mae'r prosiect blwyddyn o hyd yma'n dathlu ac yn atgyfnerthu ein cysylltiadau gyda siaradwyr Cymraeg a siaradwyr Cymraeg newydd, a hynny yma yn ein cymuned a thu hwnt.
Mae'r rhan FFILM o'r tymor 'Sgrin a Sgwrs' yn cael ei chefnogi gan Ffilm Cymru, drwy eu Cronfa Arddangos Ffilm, sy'n dod gan y Loteri Genedlaethol drwy Lywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Am y flwyddyn nesaf, bydd o leiaf 2 ddangosiad y mis o ffilm a grëwyd yn Gymraeg, gyda sesiynau dan arweiniad lle bydd cyfle i ddysgu a sgwrio am y ffilm wedyn.
Bydd ein rhaglen yn arddangos cymysgedd gyfoethog o adrodd straeon - o animeiddiadau a rhaglenni dogfen i ffilmiau byrion, a phrif ffilmiau - gan gynnwys yr hirddisgwyliedig Tanau'r Lloer (Fires of the Moon), fydd yn cael ei dangos am y tro cyntaf y mis Tachwedd hwn.
Ydych chi’n siaradwr Cymraeg neu'n siaradwr newydd sy'n awyddus i fod yn rhan o bethau? Ydych chi'n perthyn i grŵp Cymraeg a hoffai cydweithredu i greu digwyddiad? Os felly, cofiwch gysylltu gyda ni neu galwch heibio'r swyddfa docynnau am sgwrs gyda Sara. Byddem wrth ein bodd pe baech chi'n rhan o'r daith o'r daith hon!
Er mwyn cael y newyddion diweddaraf am ddangosiadau a digwyddiadau sinema'r Magic Lantern, cofiwch gofrestru ar ein rhestr e-bostio newydd gyda'r ffurflen isod!
