AGAINST YOUR NATURE – dir. Alessandro Magnabosco
Introduction
My film, Against Your Nature, is a speculative short drama set in Cornwall in 2032, after a devastating pandemic has changed life as we know it. When the government tells immune couples they must reproduce—and extends that rule to queer couples—Sara and Rachel are pushed into an impossible situation. It’s a story about love, insecurity and queer acceptance, told through the pressure this new world places on one relationship.
Inspiration
The starting point for Against Your Nature was a question I kept coming back to: what happens when a private insecurity is suddenly made impossible to ignore? Sara is a lesbian, and Rachel is bisexual, and the prospect of one of them being forced to sleep with a man brings the tension between them to the surface.
As a bisexual man in a relationship with a gay man, these are issues I think about often. Bisexuality can still be misunderstood, even within queer communities, and I wanted to approach that with care rather than judgement. The film doesn’t suggest that insecurity can simply be switched off. Instead, I hope it shows how naming those feelings honestly can become a way for people to understand each other better.
The Process
Cornwall was at the heart of the film from the beginning. I first imagined the story after visiting the region and being struck by its open spaces, sparse landscape and particular sense of rhythm. We shot the entire film there, using that natural beauty to create a version of Cornwall that feels a little bleaker and more uncertain.
Filming there was a genuinely special experience. The locations gave the story a real sense of place, while the cast and crew brought such generosity and commitment to every day on set. Working with a team that included so many people connected to Falmouth made the production feel especially rooted in the area. We were making a near-future world, but the support around us and the landscape itself made it feel very real.
What It Means to Be a Finalist
Being selected as a finalist at Worcester Film Festival means a great deal to me and everyone who made the film. It’s exciting to share Against Your Nature with new audiences and alongside other independent work. I hope the festival gives people the chance to connect with Sara and Rachel’s story, and perhaps to reflect on the complicated but very human feelings at its centre.
Where to Watch / Follow
Against Your Nature is continuing its festival journey. Follow me and Prince and Pilgrim Productions for screening announcements, behind-the-scenes updates and news of future projects.
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