Hull, 1859. Disgraced ex-army surgeon Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell) boards a whaling ship bound for the Arctic, also on board is Drax (Colin Farrell), a brutish harpooner and force of nature.

Baxter (Sir Tom Courtenay), the ship’s owner, and his Captain, Brownlee (Stephen Graham), scheme to ensure the voyage is a profitable one, regardless of the whales caught. The journey to the ice floes is arduous and the seas are rough. Will Sumner be able to keep his own secrets safe, keep his growing addiction at bay, and survive the dangers of the journey?

The North Water was adapted for the screen and directed by Andrew Haigh, made by See-Saw Films and Rhombus Media for the BBC.