Following its UK premiere in Official Competition at the BFI London Film Festival, BFI Distribution announces the acquisition of the spellbinding biographical performance film The Extraordinary Miss Flower, directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth) and starring Emilíana Torrini alongside Caroline Catz for theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on 9 May 2025.
The Extraordinary Miss Flower brings to life the remarkable story of Geraldine Flower and the discovery of a suitcase full of passionate, heartfelt letters of love sent to her in the 60s and 70s that inspired acclaimed Icelandic singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini to return to the studio and record an entire album of new songs.
Part film, part theatre, part fever dream, The Extraordinary Miss Flower takes the form of a series of specially designed performances by Emilíana and her band, combined with dramatic scenes and readings from the letters by well-known actors and musicians. It’s a collaborative and captivating creative response, capturing the romance of a bygone era and Miss Flower’s extraordinary life – a life full of secrets and enduring friendships, of travel, adventure and love.
As well as performing ten songs, Emilíana Torrini acts for the first time — alongside Caroline Catz (Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and Legendary Tapes) as ‘Miss Flower’. The film also features Richard Ayoade, Siggi Baldursson, Nick Cave, Alice Lowe, Mark Monero, Niall Murphy and Angus Sampson in supporting roles, plus the voice of Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Choreographer Kate Coyne (formally Michael Clark company) performs alongside Viva Seifert and Saeed Esmaeli. The band is Simon Byrt, Mara Carlyle, Liam Hutton, Ian Kellett and Lovisa Sigrunardottir.
Directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard have worked collaboratively as artists and filmmakers since meeting at Goldsmiths in the mid-nineties. Their BAFTA-nominated debut feature, 20,000 Days on Earth, is a creative documentary about Nick Cave. It premiered at Sundance in 2014, winning Directing and Editing awards. The same year, they won the Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director at the British Independent Film Awards.
Iain and Jane have been telling stories about music and with musicians for their entire career, working with artists including Scott Walker and Gil Scott-Heron. Their recent performance films include Live from the Centre of the Earth made during lockdown with Jarvis Cocker and Deep England, a unique collaboration between Gazelle Twin and the electronic drone choir, NYX. They are currently editing their next documentary which will be announced soon.
Emiliana Torrini has been releasing music and touring for over twenty years, Miss Flower is her most recent album and it came out to critical acclaim in summer 2024. Torrini will be touring again in 2025, the first dates have already been announced with more coming soon.
The Extraordinary Miss Flower is backed by Distiller Music, and was shot at Distillery II studio, near Bristol. Produced by Zoe Flower and co-produced by Andy Starke, executive producers are Sam Dyson with Ben Wheatley, Beth Earl and Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdottir. Key crew include cinematographer Erik Wilson BSC, Simon Byrt (musical director), Susie Coulthard (costume designer), Emma Rios (production designer / illustrator) and Anna Randall (hair and make-up designer).
The BFI’s Head of Acquisitions, Laura Dos Santos, acquired the film directly from producer Zoe Flower.
Stuart Brown, BFI Director of Programme and Distribution, said: “The Extraordinary Miss Flower is a magical and intoxicating dream of a film. Just like the ensemble of exceptional talent who came together to create it, we fell in love with the amazing story of a remarkable life.”
