Broken English

Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard United Kingdom 2025 99 min.

In this original hybrid documentary, Marianne Faithfull is the subject of an investigation by “The Ministry of Not Forgetting,” a fictional government agency. The chair of the institution—played by Tilda Swinton—leads the investigation and meticulously reconstructs the iconic artist's life story using unique historical footage. Marianne Faithfull sang for the very last time in this film, alongside artists such as Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Sadly, she passed away in 2025, before the film was completed.

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Sat 21.03 (20:15)
Cinema ZED Vesalius
Tue 24.03 (10:00)
Cinema ZED Vesalius

Broken English, named after Marianne Faithfulls best-known hit, creates a fictional framework – the so-called “ministry” and its chairwoman  –  through which the real story is told. It is an original and daring approach that pays off remarkably well: the film becomes an intimate and candid portrait of a life shaped by both fame and tragedy.

Faithfull does not mince her words and quickly makes it clear that the image sometimes imposed on her as “Mick Jagger’s girlfriend” is entirely unjustified. The filmmakers are no strangers to the scene: Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard previously made 20,000 Days on Earth, which received awards at Sundance Film Festival and won a BAFTA. Broken English also had a strong start, with its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.