Twelve years ago they made their breakthrough with the Nick Cave film “20,000 Days on Earth,” a poetic hybrid documentary that blurred the lines between fact and fiction. Now directing duo Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth are back with a new, original portrait of an iconic artist. “Broken English” is an attempt to capture the essence of artist and actress Marianne Faithfull rather than ticking off a biographical timeline.
– We wanted to create a nuanced image of an older artist looking back on his life and meeting his former self. “Broken English” focuses on her artistry and persona – and not on the scandals or her old relationship with Mick Jagger, says Jane Pollard when DN meets her at the Venice Film Festival.
She sits together with his team horse Iain Forsyth on a sofa with a clear view of the pool and lagoon on the Lido festival island. A sharp contrast to the film “Broken English”, which takes place in the closed, fictional institution “Ministry of Not Forgetting” under the supervision of Tilda Swinton. This fictional authority is tasked with “recalibrating” the collective memory of the lives and work of famous women artists – and correcting the history of women by painting a more nuanced picture than the simplistic stories that often dominate the media.
With George MacKay as host, Faithfull can comment on old TV clips and newspaper articles – a catalyst for her memories and reflections.
– The handle is very close to one of our greatest sources of inspiration – “Krapp’s Last Band”. “Samuel Beckett’s play was an important catalyst for our creative development,” says Jane Pollard.
Your pair horse Iain Forsyth adds:
– This type of film is more about creating a portrait than documenting every step from cradle to grave. The best portraits – whether photographs or paintings – are always created in collaboration with their subject. Think of Lucian Freud, whose models were an integral part of the process.
– Likewise, “Broken English” is not just a film about Marianne Faithfull – it is a film by her that was made together with her, he says.
In “Broken English” there is several startling archive clips in which Faithfull is openly subjected to misogynistic and sexist questions by journalists and presenters of the time such as Russell Harty. She repeatedly has to defend her appearance, her private life and her sexuality – while her artistic skills are often ignored.
– When I was young I saw a Russell Harty interview with Marianne, but back then I didn’t even think about “you old misogynist”. But now that I see it again, it’s hair-raising. “Times have obviously changed,” says Jane Pollard, rolling her eyes.
– I don’t know how Marianne felt deep down, because she never really got angry about the misogyny. She never took advantage of it, never tried to play on it or use it to her advantage, Pollard says.
Iain Forsyth nods:
– Her attitude to most things was, “Screw it! I’m living a great life.” “At the same time, I was a little surprised to hear her tell me, in a careless moment, that her biggest fear was being judged publicly,” says Iain Forsyth.
Marianne Faithfull has died From teen star and It girl in Swinging London to living rock legend. With her gravelly voice, her dramatic life and her ability to rise again and again, she became one of the most fascinating figures in pop history. She struggled with heroin addiction and homelessness in the 1970s, but made an acclaimed comeback with the post-punk album Broken English (1979), which marked a new, rougher style.
“Without Marianne Faithfull, there would be no Billie Eilish or Miley Cyrus”
Before filming, George MacKay completed an intensive “Marianne Faithfull course” – complete with family trees and creative networks so he knew every name and reference; including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Alain Delon, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Luc Godard – to name just a few. And of course Anita Pallenberg.
– You and Anita Pallenberg were at the forefront of feminism. They lived as they wanted, were style makers and said what they thought. They took risks, defied authority, and refused to conform—and that made them a threat. Without Marianne Faithfull, there would be no Billie Eilish or Miley Cyrus. She showed the way, says Jane Pollard.
In “Broken English” there is A key scene in which Marianne Faithfull is asked whether she thinks great darkness is necessary to be a good artist. Her answer comes snappy and lightning fast:
“So damn!” she replies and puts on a wry smile: “But of course it’s a nice hook for hanging things, right?”
– Haha, that’s a typical Marianne moment! She liked to shock, dispel myths and make people laugh, says Pollard.
– And at the same time it was a “good hook for hanging up”. She had to live through the story of being Mick Jagger’s ex-girlfriend in order to continue releasing music. It’s never black and white, never easy.
Even if Marianne Faithfull Although she was deeply involved in the film, she never got to see the finished result. She died in January 2025, seven months before the premiere in Venice. During part of the admission, she had oxygen tubes in her nose due to complications from Covid-19 and long-term lung disease. Still, she had the last word in “Broken English.” The final scene features Nick Cave and Warren Ellis in Faithfull’s very last performance, recorded shortly before her death.
“When Marianne was healthy enough to sing, we threw ourselves into the studio and did it in one day,” says Pollard, sighing deeply.
– I really miss her. I just miss having her voice in our lives. She was funny and became a really good friend.
“Broken English” will be shown at Tempofestivalen on March 3rd and 4th.
Facts.Marianne Faithful
British Singer, songwriter and actor. Born in Hampstead, London in 1946 and died in 2025.
Daughter to the Austrian baroness and dancer Eva Erisso and the British major Glynn Faithfull, who worked as a spy during World War II.
Broken through as a 17-year-old in 1964 with “As Tears Go By” (written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards), which entered the UK top ten list. In addition to the debut “Marianne Faithfull”, she has released around 20 albums, including “Strange Weather”, “Broken English” and “Before the Poison” (2005), on which she collaborated with Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Damon Albarn, among others.
Have too appeared in a long series of feature films, including “Girl on a Motorcycle” (1968), “Marie Antoinette” (2006) and “Irina Palm” (2007).
Facts:Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard
British Directing duo based in London. Jane Pollard was born in Durham in 1972, Iain Forsyth was born in Manchester in 1973.
Both I met at Goldsmiths College in London, where Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen and Mary Quant also attended.
Be early Pioneers of re-enactment in contemporary art, including the live recreation of David Bowie’s last Ziggy Stardust concert (1998).
Feature film debuts 2014 with the Nick Cave documentary 20,000 Days on Earth, which won the directing award at Sundance, was nominated for a BAFTA and won best documentary at the British Independent Awards.
Have too Directed Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories (2016) and
“The Extraordinary Miss Flower” (2024).
Current with “Broken English” (2025), which will be screened at the Tempo Documentary Festival, taking place March 2-7 in Stockholm
