Director's Works
Rule Britannia Max Fisher
Max Fisher is an award winning filmmaker with a bold and intimate style. He is a natural storyteller with an ability to build strong relationships, which allow him to draw great performances from contributors from all walks of life. His work is noted for its strong visual style.
A director well known for his emotional storytelling, Max has an enviable reputation for crafting powerful, memorable films for clients including Red Cross, Lloyds, The Royal Navy, Nike and CALM.
Max makes films with a lot of heart that always connect with the audience. His most recent example of this - The Last Photo for CALM resulted in Max winning multiple prestigious awards including The Film Grand Prix at Cannes, Ad of the year at The British Arrows, Kinsale Grand Prix, Campaign Big Grand Prix, as well as dozens of golds at various awards shows including awards for his direction.
Max moved from directing long form TV to commercials in 2015 and has recently shot major campaigns for brands such as Asda, Toyota, O2, McCain, Skoda, The Royal Navy and many more.
A former youth worker, Max is particularly adept at working with young people. He is just as gifted when collaborating with celebrities and sports stars – from Lebron James through to Lily Allen.
I made Rule Britannia because I felt that the discourse around displaced people in the UK and globally has become wildly polarised and unyielding, leaving little space for genuine debate or curiosity. I wanted to tell a human story that encourages people to think — rather than one that simply exists within its own echo chamber.
The film is a tightly contained survival thriller in which two brothers, driven by conviction and bravado, find themselves stranded at sea, and desperately in need of rescue.
As their boat sinks and night falls, the men have a surprise encounter which turns their mission on its head.
This is a socially urgent story that speaks directly to the world we are living in, and to the increasingly harsh treatment of displaced people. The film does not attempt to provide answers; instead, it is built around a single question: what does it mean to offer help to a stranger — and who do we become if we choose not to?
At its core, Rule Britannia is about the future we are shaping through our choices. The children in the story are very important to me. Their openness and capacity for connection stand in contrast to the certainty and defensiveness of the adults around them, revealing how vulnerable future generations are to the decisions we make right now.
I co-wrote the script with filmmaker Ayman Alhussein, whose own journey to Britain informed the film’s authenticity and perspective. Together, we were interested in shifting the point of view away from commentary and towards something fresher, allowing tension, action, and character to carry the film’s ideas.
Shooting Rule Britannia on a tiny boat at sea in the English Channel was the hardest thing I have ever done, and a deeply sobering experience. It left all of us moved, reflecting on what circumstances would drive someone to attempt such a perilous journey.
