In the 18th century, accurate navigation at sea was challenging due to limited technology. While observing the sun or stars could determine latitude, longitude remained elusive without precise timekeeping. This led to several maritime disasters and prompted British Parliament to establish a substantial prize for finding the longitude at sea. The primary focus of this movie is on John Harrison (Sir Michael Gambon), who developed an accurate marine chronometer. However, his approach was met with resistance from the Board of Longitude, making claiming the prize difficult. In parallel, Rupert Gould (Jeremy Irons) struggles to restore Harrison's clocks while their restoration becomes both a personal passion and a source of immense stress, nearly ruining his life.
Longitude
In two parallel narratives, the skilled watchmaker John Harrison crafted a maritime chronometer essential for precise oceanic navigation during the 18th century, while his contemporary, the meticulous horologist Rupert Gould, was driven to restore it in the 20th century.
