A Trippy Sci-Fi Odyssey with Callum Turner and George MacKay
Callum Turner and George MacKay star in a new sci-fi film that takes viewers on a mind-bending journey through time. The British movie, directed by Mark Jenkin, follows two strangers, Nick and Liam, who find themselves transformed into Cornish fishermen stuck 30 years in the past.
The film centers around the reappearing local boat, the Rose of Nevada, which brings together Nick and Liam for a fishing trip to earn some extra money. However, what begins as a simple voyage quickly spirals into something far more mysterious when they return to their town only to discover it is now 30 years in the past.
As the two men become entangled in a tragic fishing incident that has haunted the community for decades, they must grapple with the possibility of being trapped in the past forever or finding a way back home.
Intense Scenes at Sea
Throughout the film, there are numerous scenes capturing the intense life of a fisherman. Nick and Liam work alongside the ship’s hardened captain, Denver, played by Francis Magee. They battle the elements, haul heavy nets of sea creatures, and move icy boxes of goods up and down the boat.
George MacKay shared his experience of learning about the world of local fishing during the film’s production. He spoke about how he gained insight from Lee Carter, a real-life fisherman whose boat was used for filming. Although they never joined Lee on an actual shift, they learned a lot from his stories and experiences.
“Just even then, to be on the boat itself, to feel when your hands get cold, the weight of the machinery, all the stuff that they were using,” MacKay said. “I learnt by osmosis and picking bits up from what was told to us, but it’s a serious way to make a living. It’s tough work.”
A Father’s Struggle
In the movie, MacKay’s character, Nick, is a devoted husband and father who is desperate to reunite with his family. As a father himself, MacKay drew from his own experiences to portray the emotional depth of his character.
“I just love that he’s just a bloke trying to do the best for his family in what audiences will see becomes a very strange scenario. Ultimately, he’s just trying to keep his home and keep his family,” he said. “I’ve got a family and I’m learning the topsy-turvy nature of what that is like, so I really connected with this guy who’s a father and a partner, and that being the centre of his world and trying to keep that at the centre of his world when everything is going a bit nuts around him in the film.”
Working with Callum Turner
MacKay also praised his co-star, Callum Turner, who plays the role of Liam. He expressed his admiration for Turner’s acting skills and the choices he makes in his career.
“I’m such a fan of Callum as a man, as an actor, the work he’s doing, the choices he’s making, and what he’s doing right now is so exciting. I was so thrilled to be doing it with him because he’s properly top drawer, a really, really great fella.”
A Reflection on Society
Mark Jenkin, the film’s director, shared his thoughts on the movie’s themes. He highlighted how the film unintentionally showcases the stark differences between the past and present in coastal English towns.
“The contemporary context is what it is. Places are run down. There’s a lot of poverty, there’s a lot of dereliction. We’re in a post-industrial landscape, so yeah. That isn’t the point of the film, but in terms of building a context of the modern day and the time slip going back 30 years – it’s either side of the effects of austerity.”
Jenkin also reflected on how certain aspects of modern life have become normalized. “We used to have all of these things that we’ve lost,” he said.
Premiering at the BFI London Film Festival
The film, titled Rose of Nevada, will premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday, October 15, and Saturday, October 18. It is set to release in UK cinemas in 2026.
