By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.3 cats
Director: Mark Jenkin
Starring: Callum Turner | Emily Daglish-Laine | Francis Magee | George MacKay | Rosalind Eleazar
Year: 2026
Running time: 114
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35674521
Cassian says: “A mysterious fishing boat reappears after 30 years. A young father and a mysterious drifter join the fishing crew in hopes of prosperity but things take an unexpected turn when they get stuck in a time loop.
“What I loved most about this movie were the beautiful 16mm shots of the town, having not seen any other Mark Jenkin films, I was really blown away by his eye for capturing the depressing and rusty soul of this little fishing village and the mentally and physically exhausting work of being on the sea being emphasized by the constant drum of the boat engine. This was a refreshing take on a time travel story but it did feel like there were some loose ends when the film finished. I’d watch it again and maybe check out Enys Man and Bait. 3.5 cats“
Eliza says: “ROSE OF NEVADA was intriguing from opening shot to credits, in part due to the 1.35: 1 aspect ratio (squared frame). This tight framing lended itself to feelings of claustrophobia, mirroring the feelings in the film. It also had a very vintage, grainy feel, as it was shot in 16 mm, so it had a weight to it that most modern films don’t carry.
“Two fisherman in present day Cornwall, UK, 2023, set out on a fishing expedition on a boat that was said to have been missing in 1993. 30 years later, with original crew members never recovered, the men reluctantly set out in hopes of coming back with full nets.
“Nick, a family man run-down by the stress of repairs he can’t make, and bills he can’t pay, opts to set out with the local fishing crew to make money. Liam, a lost-ball-in-high-weeds drifting type, sets out on the same voyage. Their lives couldn’t be further from different, but there is a shared camaraderie over their newfound gig.
“Pretty quickly, the crew somehow jumps timelines into the era before the boat went missing in the early 90s. The captain doesn’t seem aware, but the two crewmates both are privy to what has happened. Upon arrival back to the docks, the town is waiting to see their prosperous catch. The men leave but do not know where to go, as this isn’t ‘their’ version of the town. Nick runs to his house only to see that nobody lives there. It sinks in for him that his family doesn’t exist yet. Liam, on the other hand, finds that he is married with a child. He opts to go home with his ‘new’ wife, and tries to acclimate to the role that’s been thrust upon him.
“Nick, after days of waiting and not knowing if time will change back, is grieving his family. He doesn’t understand how Liam can step into this role in this foreign identity, without a bit of guilt over the fact his new timeline wife and child really have no idea he’s not the person they think.
“The sea-sick, rugged camera motions..along with shots of rust, decay, sediment.. We are left to wonder what happens to the men, and if it’ll switch back and forth endlessly..once.. or if perhaps they really are stuck in the past.
“This was a very intriguing, unsettling watch. 3.5/5 cats.”
Michael says: “Perhaps the most divisive festival film of the Chlotrudis group (and there were a few) but for me, ROSE OF NEVADA was painful to watch, and hard for me to make it through. In fact, not knowing Mark Jenkin’s work, or recognizing George MacKay (despite LOVING his performance in THE BEAST) I thought this film was some low-budget amateur entry with poor acting and terrible production values. Shot in 16mm, which some commented on as so beautiful, I thought the film looked shoddy, and the direction, stilted and incredibly repetitive, with multiple shots of MacKay just staring with his mouth open, or Callum Turner as the other protagonist repeating lines.
Chris says: “Having directed features since the early 2000’s, Mark Jenkin wasn’t on my radar until Enys Men (2022), which earned scattered raves (particularly from UK-based critics). Upon viewing it a year later, I appreciated the cinematography, editing and sound design, but couldn’t parse what the experimental narrative was attempting to achieve, and didn’t glean much meaning or feeling from it in the end.
“I was hoping this follow-up would build on such promise, but Rose of Nevada is frustratingly more of the same. I’ve concluded that as an artist, Jenkins is a master technician—his compositions remain striking, the immersive, intricate sound design provides momentum and the often chaotic editing gives at least the impression that something exciting is happening.
“Unfortunately, his approach to narrative remains fragmented (not necessarily bad in itself) and curiously remote and cold (a big problem). Without Jenkin offering much of an invitation to connect, I became a little bored, making snarky comments to myself such as ‘Hey, it’s Edgar Winter!’ at the first sight of ancient Mrs. Richard with her long, straight white hair. George Mackay is serviceable with what he’s given (and a sight gag centered on him early on is a rare moment of actual physical humor), but I don’t recall anything about Callum Turner other than his abrupt act of violence at Mackay late in the film.
“It’s especially disappointing given that Jenkin potentially has the skills to become a beloved weirdo auteur like Peter Strickland but films, no matter how challenging, must give audiences a reason to care about what’s going on. 2 cats
“(Distributor 1-2 Special will release theatrically this summer.)”