Made with her full support, Broken English is an intimate and unflinching exploration of a fractured yet unbreakable life shaped by fame, creative genius and relentless public scrutiny. A genre-defying portrait of resilience and rebellion, a final fearless declaration, Marianne Faithfull’s defiant swan song.
With a cast led by Tilda Swinton and George MacKay, the film follows the pair as they take on the roles of investigators within the framework of ‘The Ministry of Not Forgetting’, a poetic construct committed to rescuing cultural memory from oblivion. Faithfull becomes its first ‘subject’ rendered through a deeply intimate tapestry of interviews, archival footage, and soundscapes.
In addition to her last recorded performance, Broken English showcases intimate contributions from her friends and long-time collaborators, including Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Courtney Love, Suki Waterhouse, Beth Orton, and Jehnny Beth. Additional cast include Zawe Ashton, Calvin Demba, and Sophia Di Martino.
A lightning rod for fame, scandal, and reinvention, Marianne Faithfull was more than just a muse. She was the face of a generation, and the voice that cut through it. Vilified by the press, underestimated by the industry, she endured heartbreak and addiction, yet never lost her edge, or her truth, releasing over 35 albums while constantly reinventing herself.
Live-Streamed Performance: A line-up of very special music guests will perform live from the Barbican to mark the UK & Irish cinema release of Broken English: a never seen before career-spanning portrait of the late Marianne Faithfull, directed by BAFTA nominees Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth).
Following a preview screening of the critically acclaimed film, the event will see the likes of celebrated musicians and performers take to the stage to cover Faithfull’s songs, including Jarvis Cocker, Beth Orton, Anna Calvi and Rufus Wainwright. The award-winning actor Samantha Morton will read a poem from Marianne Faithfull’s album ‘She Walks In Beauty’.
Director Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard
Year 2026
Duration
2h 55m
Language English
Cast Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, Nick Cave