In the wake of the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, audiences are yearning for sea-related films to watch in its honor. After it made its way from Venice to Toronto, I got to see Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada as part of the New York Film Festival. The film follows Nick (George MacKay) and Liam (Callum Turner) as they join the crew of a fishing vessel that has mysteriously returned to their village after not being seen for thirty years. Nick joins up to make money for his wife and daughter, as their house is falling apart, while Liam is just looking to escape his own family through long, hard work. After returning from their initial voyage, they come home to discover they’ve been transported back in time to when the ship originally disappeared, stepping into the lives of the men who went missing as if they never left.
Shot on location in Cornwall with 16mm film, Rose of Nevada is one of the most strikingly unique-looking films of the year. Parts of the cinematography evoke the feeling of discovering a long-lost film for the first time, complete with those beautiful dissolves, as the film burns and transitions to the next scene. It’s haunting and feels like something that could have only been made before 1980. This style perfectly matches the ghostlike story being told.
Outside of the cinematography, the film is quiet and subdued. Both MacKay and Turner turn in solid, internal performances. You can see the effects that each sea excursion has on them, particularly MacKay. His mental deterioration throughout the film is brutal to watch, and it speaks to him as a performer that so much emotion is conveyed without having to yell and overexplain his feelings.
The most captivating performance, though, is Francis Magee as Rose of Nevada’s captain. He works those boys to the bone and makes sure they know they won’t even think about coming home until the boat is full to the brim with fish. Magee plays an eerie stereotype of what you might think a man of the sea might be, but he seems to be more knowing of the situation than he lets on. He is the glue that keeps the film together.
At 114 minutes, the film is a little too long for the story it ultimately tells, lagging a bit, and running through the same scenarios one too many times. The themes and ideas being explored are interesting, but are hammered home so much that it takes away from enjoying the film. What do we do when no one believes we are who we think we are? Am I who I say I am? Does it even matter? These questions are fascinating to think about and are on full display through Nick and Liam; each one is working these out in very different ways, taking advantage of living someone else’s life or letting this reality slowly decay the mind. MacKay and Turner are uniquely suited to these roles.
Rose of Nevada is a seductive supernatural drama with strong performances and a distinct cinematic style. You won’t find another film like this anytime soon. The cinematography and atmosphere the movie creates are one of a kind, pushing the boundaries of what you expect in modern filmmaking. Mark Jenkin’s dreamy sea tale will have you entranced from start to finish.
Rose of Nevada held its U.S. Premiere as part of the Main Slate section at the 2025 New York Film Festival.
Director: Mark Jenkin
Writer: Mark Jenkin
Rated: NR
Runtime: 114m
Rose of Nevada is a seductive supernatural drama with strong performances and a distinct cinematic style. You won’t find another film like this anytime soon.
Proud owner of three movie passes. Met Harrison Ford at a local diner once. Based in Raleigh, NC.
