A fishing boat mysteriously returns to a village 30 years after vanishing. The owner decides to get it back out to sea and takes on two young men needing a job, Nick (George MacKay) and Liam (Callum Turner). But when returning from their first trip out, they have been transported back in time and mistaken for the original crew.
Writer/director Mark Jenkin has received gushing praise for his first two films, Bait and Enys Men, but their very limited release and unappealing story synopsis meant I missed them. Rose of Nevada with its more recognisable stars, is getting a wider distribution but I imagine it will struggle to find a large audience as it is far from an easy watch. I found the opening passages quite alienating and it took me a while to get on board with Jenkin’s style. He shoots on 16mm, develops his prints by hand so to create scratches, with dialogue and ambient sound overdubbed, giving it a discordant feel. He provides the unsettling score on top of his writing, directing and cinematography duties.
As with all movies involving time travel, there are issues with the practicalities but it slowly pulled me in as I became engrossed in the puzzle that unfolded. Nick wants to get back to his partner and child, but Liam, who had been sleeping rough, is more than happy with his new identity, especially as it pairs him up with Tina, played by the brilliant Rosalind Eleazar.
This is an original, thought provoking film that will live with me for a long while, and has opened my eyes to Jenkin’s talent.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10