Beached

BEACHED tells the surreal story of two days in the lives of Paul and Angela. Together for years, Angela longs for Paul to pop the question but Paul doesn't believe in marriage. Angela persuades herself he doesn't believe in them and leaves him. In his drunken quest for solace, Paul begins a journey of self-discovery - with a little help from two talking mannequins and a relationship-counselling panda - to try to overcome his fear of commitment. Question is: will it be in time? Shot on 35mm anamorphic on location in Swansea and the Gower Peninsula in the spring of 2007 by Welsh director Hefin Rees and producer Ben Pickering, BEACHED screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner and the Strasbourg International Film Festival in 2009. It features the final screen appearance of the late Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell.

Directed by Hefin Rees, Beached leans on a strong ensemble — Alex Warner, Nina Jamil, Mark Cainen — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2009.