When a fishing boat, the Rose of Nevada, lost with all hands 30 years ago, mysteriously reappears in the old harbour of a forgotten Cornish village, for those who remember, it’s surely a sign. The boat must go out to sea again and maybe then the luck of the devastated village will turn. Young father Nick and enigmatic newcomer Liam join captain Murgey, and they head to sea. But when they return, satisfied with their haul, something is amiss – they’ve slipped back in time, and the villagers greet them as if they are the original crew.
Made in Cornwall, all of Mark Jenkin’s features have been shot on 16mm using a Bolex clockwork camera; the film grain and saturated colour are beautifully revealed on the big screen. The camera only runs for 27 seconds before it needs rewinding, so filming is fast and must be efficient; Jenkin even incorporates the end of reel ‘spoiled’ frames. No sound is recorded live so the actors re-voice their entire dialogue during the edit, with all foley and sound effects added then.
“From a perspective of pure atmosphere, this is arguably the most mesmerizing film of the year thus far.” New York Times
“This story of two strangers who take a job on a fishing boat — their lives are irrevocably altered once they return to shore — slowly pulls you inside its disquieting design. By the time you get your bearings, you’re ensnared in its net.” Los Angeles Times
“As a story of time and tide waiting for no man, “Rose of Nevada” is haunting, bittersweet, and a little scary.” The New Yorker
“Rose of Nevada is Jenkin’s most conventional narrative film so far, which is to say it’s still filled to the brim with dreams, visions, and ambiguities. It’s a Cornish The Great Gatsby, in its own mesmeric way, though its boat bearing us back ceaselessly into the past is a literal one.” The Independent