The Melbourne International is on now and running until August 24. Details at miff.com.au
Review by James Bell.
The Extraordinary Miss Flower (Directed By Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard)
Screening: Friday August 22 and Sunday August 24.
While on a self-imposed musical hiatus, singer and songwriter Emilíana Torrini was staying in London with her friend and wife of long-time collaborator Simon Byrt, Zoe Flower, who had recently experienced the death of her enigmatic mother, Geraldine. In the process of cleaning out her apartment, Zoe found a trove of romantic correspondence sent to her mother during the 60s and 70s from a series of infatuated men.
Inspired by this discovery, the Icelandic performer penned a suite of sultry, lovelorn tunes that took the form of a concept album, Miss Flower, released in 2024. Directors Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, known for the pseudo-documentary 20,000 Days on Earth, help bring the album to life.
This is familiar territory for the duo, who have an extensive history working with musicians, Nick Cave in particular, who appears as one of Flower’s seminal dalliances and whose worldly presence and impassioned delivery add gravitas to his brief segment.
They have found another generous collaborator in Torrini, who illuminates every frame she appears in with her preternatural grace and magnetism. Torrini appears to have found a kindred spirit in Geraldine Flower, and she wholeheartedly commits to the assignment of reviving her through song. She’s more than channelling her; she’s embodying her like a method actor would.
The performances, played live, are at first redolent of the early films produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company around the turn of the century, but later become more kaleidoscopic and visually arresting. During one performance, Torrini sways in front of a nocturnal vista lit up by streams of blue and turquoise light reminiscent of the Northern Lights. In another, sprays of colour splash across the screen before ripples of fluorescents undulate over Torrini in a moment of pure psychedelic bliss.
Complementing these performances are scenes of loose elliptical narration told from the perspective of the titular Miss Flower, who is being portrayed by Caroline Catz. The British soap star plays the enigmatic figure as a gregarious and charming raconteur who remains elusive in spite of her free-spirited nature. The backstory, is told in fragmentary episodes and the film also features letter readings from a range of musical and cinematic luminaries such as Nick Cave, Richard Ayoade (Submarine, MIFF 2011), Angus Sampson (100 Bloody Acres) and others.
The Extraordinary Miss Flower is a brisk 73-minute, lovingly crafted and fittingly sparing dedication. You might come out of this film with a healthy fascination with its subject and yet know almost nothing about her. From the filmmakers’ standpoint, that feels like mission accomplished.