In the film we encounter Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci) travelling across England to the Lakes in their campervan, visiting friends, family and places from their past. Two years after Tusker’s diagnosis, time together is the most important thing they have. As the trip progresses however, their individual ideas for their future begin to collide.
Filming in the Lake District
While the heart of the film is the emotional journey of Sam and Tusker’s relationship, Supernova also draws deep significance from their physical journey through the raw and dramatic landscapes of the Lakes.
‘Every time I go to the Lakes I’m in awe of its variety and its vastness,’ said Harry. ‘It seems to be an almost constantly shifting landscape, so easily moulded by weather and light. No day feels the same.
‘When I had decided that Sam and Tusker’s story was one that would unfold on the road, it seemed like the perfect place to take it. I wanted to utilise the beauty and the drama of the landscape to underscore the narrative, and investigate how the characters responded to it too. It’s an awe-inspiring place but also a brutal and unforgiving one, which is fitting for this kind of story.’