Project Detail

Croydon Cowgirl

Synopsis

The story of two full-of-life, lonely and desperate strangers. One has risked his life to come to the UK to seek asylum; the other is a bold, vivacious woman clinging on to life, looking bleakly to her future whilst not quite being able to let go of her chaotic past. Jostling between comedy and heart-breaking moments of vulnerability, our story treads the fine line between pathos and humour, where human nature and tragedy are just a part of everyday life.
Cindie is jobless, childless, and her life has been spiralling - addicted to her love of a party, vaping and drink. A working-class woman about to turn 40 and at her lowest ebb, she’s offered a lifeline via a sham marriage by fixer Amel - to a political refugee, Tariq, 27. In 2025, the number of people crossing the Dover Straits to the UK to seek asylum has doubled to around 60,000; this number continues to rise.
A story about drag, immigration, class and true friendship. And so much more than that - it’s a love story, a modern fairy tale, and love is something we can all relate to regardless of sex, race, or religion – love is universal.

Details

Year: 2025
Type of project: Shorts
Running time: 14 min 59 sec
Director: Phoebe Barran
Producer: Kayleigh-Paige Rees
Executive Producer: Nigel Hughes, Stephen Upstone
Editor: Jack Thrush
Screenwriter: Kellie Shirley
Director of Photography: Birgit Bebe Dierken
Production Designer: Medard Mankos
Sound: John York
Composer: Heather Pitchford
Principal cast: Kellie Shirley, Melanie Walters, Sarah Seggari, Carwen Jones, Aram Mardourian, Kyle Tovey,

Genre

Drama Human Rights Welsh Woman Director

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Raspberry Films

Phoebe Barran

phoebebarran@gmail.com

Page updates

This page was last updated on 20th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

Kevin and Cassandra are a married couple who have lost their only daughter Hannah in a freak car accident. They both raised her differently. Kevin had been a traditional parent, Cassandra a permissive one. While Hannah had decided to exhibit her body and mind online, she cut adrift from her father and gravitates towards her mother. Her death drove a wedge between them. Their lounge becomes a battlefield where incendiary words and spiteful things are said. Their marriage is one where opposites no longer attract. Kevin is filled with loathing for his in-laws, his daughter’s boyfriend, himself. Cassandra wears her daughter’s favorite colours with pride and exhibits her painting on the walls. Kevin finds he is powerless in his home and Cassandra mocks the fact that it was her father who bought it. And when he finally leaves it, he leaves Cassandra forever.

Black Drama