Marianne Faithfull Doc ‘Broken English’ Acquired by Italy’s I Wonder Pictures Ahead of Venice World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

Italian distribution company I Wonder Pictures has acquired rights to Venice-bound “Broken English,” a portrait of the late Marianne Faithfull directed by BAFTA nominees Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (“20,000 Days on Earth”).

“Broken English” is set to world premiere in the Out of Competition section at the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30. Sales and finance outfit Global Constellation handles international sales, with Cinetic Media repping North American rights.

Shot in the last years of Faithfull’s life, and featuring her last recorded performance, “Broken English” captures the singer-songwriter, poet and actor in rare, unguarded moments as she reflects on art, survival and legacy.

With a cast led by Tilda Swinton and George MacKay, the film follows the pair as they take on the roles of investigators within the framework of the Ministry of Not Forgetting, “an undercover poetic construct committed to rescuing cultural memory from oblivion.” Faithfull becomes its first “subject,” rendered through a tapestry of interviews, archival footage and soundscapes.

A lightning rod for fame, scandal and reinvention, 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 grasp of the truth, releasing over 35 albums while constantly reinventing herself.

Andrea Romeo of I Wonder Pictures said: “Iain and Jane have crafted a truly unique cinematic journey, one that brings us closer than ever to understanding who Marianne Faithfull was, and why she stands as one of the most profound artists of the 20th century, shoulder to shoulder with the male counterparts we so readily celebrate.”

In addition to Faithfull’s final performance, “Broken English” showcases 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, Calvin Demba and Sophia Di Martino.

“Broken English” is produced by Beth Earl of Rustic Canyon Pictures. The film’s executive producers include Thomas Benski, Marisa Clifford, Isabel Davies and Tim O’Shea for Magna Studios, Marc Robinson for Globe Originals, Julia Xu for Q&A Entertainment, and Victoria Steventon.

Cold Iron Pictures are on board with Miranda Bailey and Julia Stier co-executive producing. Oliver Hsu, Jennifer Lin, Cristina Ljungberg, Tien-Tsung Ma, Stuart Souter and Alvin Wang are co-executive producers. Liam Coutts and Laura Rees are co-producing. Kate Griffiths, Mike Griffiths and Tess McNally-Watson are the archive producers on the project.