Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
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- 1h 36min
- Documentary, Biography
- 05 Mar 2021 (UK)
- Movie
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Celeste Bell | ... |
Self, also narrator
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| Poly Styrene | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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X-Ray Spex | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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Hazel Emmons | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Don Letts | ... |
Self (voice)
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Rhoda Dakar | ... |
Self (voice)
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Ifrah Ahmed | ... |
Self (voice)
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Kinsi Abdulleh | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Pauline Black | ... |
Self (voice)
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Bruno Aleph Wizard | ... |
Self (voice)
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Helen McCookerybook | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Vivienne Westwood | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Youth | ... |
Self (voice)
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Lora Logic | ... |
Self (voice)
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Paul Dean | ... |
Self (voice)
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Rina Vergano | ... |
Self (voice)
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Falcon Stuart | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Jonathan Ross | ... |
Self (voice)
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John Cooper Clarke | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Thurston Moore | ... |
Self (voice)
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| David Bowie | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Gina Birch | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Vivien Goldman | ... |
Self (voice)
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Lucy O'Brien | ... |
Self (voice)
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Ana Da Silva | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Kathleen Hanna | ... |
Self (voice)
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Jack Airport | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as Jak Airport)
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| Neneh Cherry | ... |
Self (voice)
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John Robb | ... |
Self (voice)
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Adrian Bell | ... |
Self (voice)
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Yashoda | ... |
Self, Poly Styrene's friend and bodyguard (voice)
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G.T. Moore | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Ruth Negga | ... |
Poly Styrene (voice)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| John Lydon | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Holly Woodlawn | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Directed by
| Celeste Bell | ||
| Paul Sng | ||
Written by
| Celeste Bell | ... | (written by) and |
| Zoë Howe | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Dani Carlaw | ... | head of unscripted: Creative Scotland |
| Richard Coram | ... | executive producer |
| Natasha Dack | ... | executive producer: Tigerlily (as Natasha Dack Ojumu) |
| Colm Forde | ... | associate producer |
| Jill Hearst | ... | associate producer |
| Vanessa Lobon | ... | associate producer |
| Rebecca Mark-Lawson | ... | producer |
| Morven Masterton | ... | assistant producer |
| Daria Nitsche | ... | producer |
| Jack Oliver | ... | executive producer: Sky |
| Nikki Parrott | ... | executive producer: Tigerlily |
| Lisa Marie Russo | ... | executive producer: BFI Doc Society Fund |
| Matthew Silverman | ... | producer |
| Mark Thomas | ... | executive producer: Creative Scotland |
| Bruno Waser | ... | executive producer |
| Rachael Yates | ... | post producer: Halo Post Production |
Music by
| Marina Elderton | ... | (original score) |
Cinematography by
| Nick Ward | ||
Editing by
| Xanna Ward Dixon | ||
Editorial Department
| David Arthur | ... | edit consultant |
| Edward Corrigan | ... | online edit assistant: Halo |
| Claire Ferguson | ... | edit consultant |
| Adam Hall | ... | online editor: Halo Post Production |
| Sky Helwig | ... | dcp quality assurance |
| Katherine Jamieson | ... | colourist: Halo Post Production |
| Matthew Locke | ... | head of business: Halo |
| Mark Shrapnell-Smith | ... | online edit assistant: Halo |
| Jennifer Souter | ... | assistant editor |
| Rachael Yates | ... | post-production producer: Halo |
Casting By
| Martha Stewart | ... | voice casting director |
Production Management
| Hannah Bush Bailey | ... | production manager |
Sound Department
| Raoul Brand | ... | re-recording mixer / sound designer |
| Sandy Buchanan | ... | foley mixer / foley recordist |
| Jonathan Hardy | ... | sound recordist |
| Dave Poulton | ... | foley artist |
| James Shirley | ... | voice recordist: Halo Post Production |
| Jonny Solway | ... | voice recordist: Dean Street Studios |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Cindy Sasha | ... | production photographer |
Music Department
| Celeste Bell | ... | music supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Nigel Abbas | ... | legal services: Abbas Media |
| Kiran Acharya | ... | production assistant / research assistant |
| Celeste Bell | ... | archive researcher |
| Elisa Colliez | ... | French subtitles |
| Isabel Davis | ... | executive director: Creative Scotland |
| Shukri Elmi | ... | Archival Assistant (documentary segments) |
| Eve Gabereau | ... | distribution |
| Kyle Garrett Greenberg | ... | Distribution |
| Andrea Hailwood | ... | interview transcriptions |
| Paul Hillier | ... | e&o insurance |
| Christine Howard | ... | business affairs executive |
| Brown McLeod | ... | accountancy services |
| Lowenna Merritt | ... | production assistant / research assistant |
| Victoria Millington | ... | interview transcriptions |
| Joe Morris | ... | production assistant / research assistant |
| Robert Norris | ... | legals |
| Katharine Otway | ... | legal services: Kenren Media |
| Raphael Pugh | ... | production assistant / research assistant |
| Lara Richardson | ... | production assistant / research assistant |
| Sandra Whipham | ... | BFI Doc Society director |
| Lucy Whitton | ... | archive researcher |
| Mark Wilson | ... | legal manager |
Thanks
| Lucy Bright | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Modern Films (2021) (United Kingdom)
- NITV (2024) (Australia) (tv)
- Pacific Northwest Pictures (2021) (Canada)
- Photon Films and Media (2021) (Canada)
- Pink Moon (2022) (Belgium)
- Pink Moon (2022) (Netherlands)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2021) (Finland) (tv) (also Internet)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Freeway CAM B.V. (collection account management)
- Simple DCP (digital cinema package)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Punk icon and X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene was the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful rock band, and a key influence on the riot grrrl and Afropunk movements. She was survived by a daughter, Celeste, who became the steward of her mother's legacy and demons, which plagued Poly's life and scarred the pair's relationship. With narration by Ruth Negga (Loving), this film follows Celeste's journey to better understand Poly as an icon and mother. |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Movie Connections | Featured in TOAP 'Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche' Special (Celeste Bell/Paul Sng) (2022). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Germ Free Adolescents See more » |