Project Detail

Broken English

Broken English

Synopsis

The layered structure on which BROKEN ENGLISH rests is the fictional ‘Ministry of Not Forgetting’ (led by Tilda Swinton and her trusty interviewer George MacKay), who take Marianne Faithful on a journey into a rich and event-filled past. Images, clips and interviews are interspersed with musical responses by Beth Orton, Courtney Love and Nick Cave, creating an inventive and soulful portrait of cultural icon Marianne Faithfull.
Official Selection Venice Film Festival 2025 - World premiere
Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2025 - Documentary Special Presentation

Details

Type of project
Features
Running time
99 min
Director
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
Producer
Beth Earl
Editor
Luke Thompson
Screenwriter
Iain Forsyth, Ian Martin, Jane Pollard
Director of Photography
Daniel Landin
Production Designer
Alison Dominitz
Principal cast
With contributions from: Marianne Faithfull, Zawe Ashton, Nick Cave, Calvin Demba, Sophia Di Martino, George MacKay, Tilda Swinton

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

A Phantoscopic (UK), Cold Iron Pictures (US), Magna Studios (US), Rustic Canyon Pictures (US) production

Sales Company

Page updates

This page was last updated on 6th October 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

The Extraordinary Miss Flower The Extraordinary Miss Flower

Director: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Year: 2024

A spellbinding performance film by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, bringing to life the remarkable story the extraordinary Geraldine Flower, and the discovery of a suitcase of letters sent to her in the 1960s and 70s that inspired acclaimed Icelandic singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini to return to the studio. Part film, part theatre, part fever dream — THE EXTRAORDINARY MISS FLOWER takes the form of a series of specially designed performances by Emilíana and her band, combined with dramatic scenes and readings from letters by well-known actors and musicians. It's ultimately a heartfelt love letter to the enduring power of creativity and friendship. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition - World premiere Official Selection Dublin International Film Festival 2025 - International premiere Official Selection Melbourne International Film Festival 2025

20,000 Days On Earth 20,000 Days On Earth

Director: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Year: 2014

Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international cultural icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, the film examines what makes us who we are, and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit.

Allies in Exile Allies in Exile

Director: Hasan Kattan

Year: 2026

For 14 years, Syrian filmmakers Hasan Kattan and Fadi Al-Halabi have journeyed together through war and storytelling. Their bond was forged on the frontlines of revolution where their cameras recorded terror and hope, laughter and heartbreak – moments that defined a generation. Years later, their story takes an unexpected turn. Confined inside a UK asylum hotel, Hasan and Fadi document a new chapter shaped not by bombs, but by waiting, bureaucracy, and exile. Amid rising anti-refugee hostility, they turn the camera inward exploring friendship and displacement and how filming itself becomes an act of survival when the future is so uncertain. Official Selection International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026 - World premiere