Some artists defy categorization so completely that even their documentaries must break free from convention. Such is the case with “Broken English,” a bold new film that captures the essence of Marianne Faithfull – rock survivor, poetic soul, and perpetual rebel against the ordinary.
Fresh from its Venice Film Festival debut, this isn’t your typical music documentary. Directors Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth have crafted something far stranger and more compelling – part fever dream, part archival treasure hunt, with Tilda Swinton serving as our enigmatic guide through the “Ministry of Not Forgetting.” Sound peculiar? Well, that’s rather the point.
The film’s unconventional approach proved predictably divisive at Venice. While some viewers embraced its experimental nature, others fled for the exits – perhaps the most fitting tribute possible to an artist who’s spent decades making the comfortable uncomfortable.
At the heart of this kaleidoscopic portrait lies a series of remarkably candid conversations between Faithfull and actor George MacKay. Despite the artificial construct of their staged interviews, there’s raw truth in every exchange. “Despite all these stupid people and their stupid questions, I’ve actually had rather a lovely life, so fuck ’em,” Faithfull declares, addressing decades of misogynistic media coverage that tried to reduce her to mere footnotes in rock history.
The archival footage tells its own story – the transformation of a fresh-faced folk singer (complete with “angel-blonde hair swirling in the wind,” promotional copy she now reads with delicious disdain) into something far more interesting: a fierce creative force who survived addiction, attempted suicide, and emerged with her artistry not just intact, but deepened. Her voice, ravaged by time and experience, became something extraordinary – what producer Hal Wilner perfectly describes as “a voice of a life. A difficult life.”
Musical tributes weave throughout the film like golden threads. Beth Orton delivers a haunting take on “As Tears Go By,” while Courtney Love brings her characteristic intensity to “Times Square.” But nothing quite prepares you for Faithfull’s final recorded performance – a collaboration with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on “Misunderstanding.” Her weathered voice wraps around the lyrics like old leather, while Cave’s repeated refrain of “only you have such allure” feels less like accompaniment and more like prophecy.
Sure, the film’s experimental framework occasionally threatens to collapse under its own weight. The Ministry of Not Forgetting? The philosophical detours into memory versus remembrance? It might seem like artistic overreach. And yet – isn’t there something perfectly fitting about using such unconventional methods to tell the story of a woman who never fit anyone’s expectations?
Faithfull’s passing in January 2023 lends the film an additional layer of poignancy, but “Broken English” stands as more than just a memorial. It’s a testament to the power of reinvention, the beauty of imperfection, and the art of remaining defiantly, gloriously authentic. Much like its subject, the documentary challenges, provokes, and ultimately moves us – proof that some stories demand to be told differently.
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