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 (The Room Next Door, Asteroid City) and George MacKay (Cry To Heaven, Femme, 1917), 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 longtime collaborators, including Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Courtney Love, Suki Waterhouse, Beth Orton, and Jehnny Beth. Additional cast include Zawe Ashton (The Marvels), Calvin Demba (Supacell), and Sophia Di Martino (Loki). 

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.