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Spotlight

Broken English

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United Kingdom202599 minEnglish
Broken English

A portrait of the inimitable singer, songwriter, and icon Marianne Faithfull.

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A portrait of the inimitable singer, songwriter, and icon Marianne Faithfull.

Broken English, which premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, is a singular tribute worthy of a singular artist — another hybrid, genre-bending piece from co-directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth, 2014 Sundance Film Festival).

The filmmakers introduce us to the Ministry of Not Forgetting, a fictitious research facility where Tilda Swinton and George MacKay begin an inquiry into Marianne Faithfull’s life and career. The British iconoclast is a willing interviewee — sharp and witty. Her dynamic presence is complemented by rich archival footage and several moving performances by the singer herself, as well as Beth Orton, Courtney Love, Nick Cave, and Suki Waterhouse. Broken English is a playful and wildly original portrait of a musician who refused to conform. Gone, but certainly not forgotten. — AT

Available in person only. 

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Credits

  • Director(s)

    Jane Pollard

    Iain Forsyth

  • Screenwriter

    Iain Forsyth

    Jane Pollard

    Ian Martin

  • Producer

    Beth Earl

  • Additional Cast

    Marianne Faithfull

    George MacKay

    Tilda Swinton

    Sophia Di Martino

    Zawe Ashton

    Calvin Demba

  • Supporting Cast

    Nick Cave

    Warren Ellis

    Courtney Love

    Suki Waterhouse

    Beth Orton

    Jehnny Beth

  • Director of Photography

    Daniel Landin, BSC

  • Production Design

    Alison Dominitz

  • Costume Designer

    Jerry Stafford

  • Executive Producers

    Thomas Benski

    Marisa Clifford

    Isabel Davis

    Tim O'Shea

    Marc Robinson

    Victoria Steventon

    Julia Xu

  • Co-Producer

    Liam Coutts

  • Company

    Rustic Canyon Pictures

  • Website
  • Contact

    Beth Earl

    office@rusticcanyonpictures.com

Meet the Artist

Panelist Name

Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard

  • Instagram

Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard are award-winning artists and BAFTA-nominated filmmakers who have collaborated since meeting at Goldsmiths art school. Their bold, intimate work spans film, installation, and documentary, including collaborations with Scott Walker, Gil Scott-Heron, and Jarvis Cocker. Their first feature, 20,000 Days on Earth, won a BIFA and Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Directing and Editing Awards.

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