A decade on from their award-winning Nick Cave drama–documentary 20,000 Days on Earth, directorial duo Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard continue their exploration of the art form with a new performance film starring Icelandic–Italian singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini.

Described as “part film, part theatre, part fever dream,” The Extraordinary Miss Flower is a companion piece to Torrini's recent album Miss Flower, and has been selected by the BFI London Film Festival as one of eleven films in competition for the Best Film award – won last year by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi with the Eiko Ishibashi soundtracked Evil Does Not Exist.

Inspired by the life and loves of a woman named Geraldine Flower, both the album and film grew out of the discovery of a suitcase of letters, journals, and photographs, found in Miss Flower's apartment after her death in 2019. She had always been a magnetic personality with colorful tales to tell, but the discovery of letters she'd received in the '60s and '70s – mostly from suitors and would-be suitors – revealed new sides to her story, and a hint at the possibility of a life of espionage.

Described in a press release as "ultimately a heartfelt love letter to the enduring power of creativity and friendship," The Extraordinary Miss Flower features all ten songs from the album performed by Torrini and her band, combined with dramatizations of Miss Flower's adventures and readings of her letters by actors and musicians, including Nick Cave and Siggi Baldursson (of Björk's former band The Sugarcubes). Actor Caroline Catz plays the role of Miss Flower, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor narrates.

In a recent interview with The Line of Best Fit, Torrini described the making of the film as “the wildest experience,” saying: “We shot the whole 80-minute film over just two days, and the artistry of it is insane. So beautiful. I’m in total awe.”

Watch the trailer below:

Forsyth and Pollard are also the team behind the Munroe Bergdorf-starring music video for ANOHNI’s “It Must Change”, the Gil Scott-Heron documentary Who is Gil Scott-Heron?, and live performance films by Gazelle Twin & NYX (Deep England) and Jarvis Cocker (Jarv Is… Live From the Center of the Earth). Reacting to the news of being included in the competition, they said:

“It's rare for a project that's creatively urgent and personally driven to receive recognition like this. In these challenging times for UK independent film, we urgently need beacons of light. So thank you London Film Festival — we’re thrilled silly that the world premiere of The Extraordinary Miss Flower will be in competition at LFF — in our home town, and the place Miss Flower called home.” 

The 68th BFI London Film Festival takes place 9 to 20 October, with tickets going on general sale from 10am BST on 17 September. The Extraordinary Miss Flower will have two screenings: one on 19 September at BFI Southbank and one the following day at Vue West End. Also premiering at the festival is an animated biopic of Pharrell Williams – watch the trailer here.

Torrini and her band also have a European tour lined up for the fall, calling at:

09/28 Reggio Emilia, Italy @ Romolo Valli Theatre
09/29 Milan, Italy @ Alcatraz
10/01 Rubigen, Switzerland @ Muhle Hunziken
10/02 Geneva, Switzerland @ PTR
10/03 Winterthur, Switzerland @ Salzhaus
10/O5 Stuttgart, Germany @ Liederhalle
10/06 Cologne, Germany @ Gloria Theater
10/07 Leipzig, Germany @ UT Connewitz
10/08 Hamburg, Germany @ Elbphilharmonie
10/10 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Bremen Teater
10/12 Fredericia, Denmark @ Tøjhuset
10/14 Utrecht, The Netherlands @ Tivoli
10/15 Antwerp, Belgium @ De Roma
10/16 Tourcoing, France @ Le Grand Mix
10/17 Paris, France @ Alhambra
10/20 London, UK @ EartH
10/22 Vienna, Austria @ Theater Azkent
10/24 Berlin, Germany @ Haus des Rundfunks
10/25 Prague, Czech Republic @ Palac Akropolis
10/26 Bratislava, Slovakia @ Majestic Music Club

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