Mark Jenkin’s latest film Rose of Nevada sees a mysterious boat return to a remote fishing village on the Cornish coast. Two men, Liam (Callum Turner) and Nick (George MacKay), join the crew hoping for better fortune, but after one voyage, they are transported back in time and mistaken to be the original crew.
Jenkin’s film is far from being an easy watch. It’s slow-pacing, cryptic plotting and repetition may initially put some viewers off, but if you stay aboard, you’ll be transfixed. Jenkin’s has cited David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997) as one of his key influences, which is evident in Rose of Nevada. Structurally, it’s very similar to Highway with its looping narrative and haunting dream-like imagery. But comparisons could also be drawn with All of Us Strangers (2023), which had a similar feel.
The 16mm cinematography is utilised to full effectiveness; every speck of grain, every imperfection contributes to that same dreamy atmosphere. It’s akin to a campfire ghost story. Every image is fleeting.
The themes of time, memory and economic struggle are evident, but the film feels more of an aesthetic piece. So much is captured in close-up, yet we never feel intimate with the characters. But one can only sense the purposefulness of that in every frame. Both Turner and MacKay are great, but it really is the technicality of the film that stays on the mind.
The sound design is also some of the best in recent memory. You can hear every noise of the boat, the town…
Rose of Nevada is a film that sticks in the mind like a haunting, familiar dream.
Catch it at Glasgow Film Festival this Friday.
Featured Image Credit: BFI Distribution