Broken English Dir: Jane Pollard & Iain Forsyth
Just months after her death comes this film about Marianne Faithfull. Is it a documentary? A biopic? Is it any good? Let’s find out.
First off, I personally feel that Marianne Faithfull was one of the most under-rated musical artists of the last 50 years.
Her 1960’s work was often written off as the product of “Mick Jagger’s girlfriend”, while her later work was that of a drugged out junkie.
To be fair, she was both of those things…but also a lot more.
Her musical output from 1979’s Broken English, onward, is as good, if not better than any of her contemporaries.
So a film about her life is warranted.
I was a bit skeptical though when I learned that this film was to be directed by the team of Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth. Sure, they know their music, having worked on projects with or about Nick Cave, Gil Scott Heron, The Cramps and David Bowie. But they have a tendency to get “artsy”.
So, with Tilda Swinton on board as the manager of a fictional “Ministry of Not Forgetting” and actor George MacKay signed on to play a music journalist/researcher interviewing Faithfull, I was concerned that her story might get buried in the concept…which seemed either ambitious or pretentious, depending on how its carried off.
Fortunately MacKay proves to be a sympathetic interviewer and its clear that Marianne has warmed to him. Her reactions and recollections as they pour over newspaper clippings and old TV clips are honest, open, unguarded and funny.
Meanwhile another high concept involving a round table discussion on feminism with folks like Sophie Fienes and Natasha Khan is totally unnecessary.
I would have liked to see more of the live performances by Beth Orton, Courtney Love and Jehnny Beth…hopefully there with be a soundtrack album.
But the best is kept for last.
Marianne Faithfull died this past January while this film was beingmade and they captured what became her final performance…singing Misunderstanding from her 2018 album, Negative Capability with accompaniment from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
It is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Much like Marianne’s life.
If you don’t know much about this incredible artist, please patiently sit through the filmmakers’ “artistic statement” and listen when Marianne speaks. Then go and listen to her music.
Marty Duda
Broken English opens in cinemas today.
