Poly Styrene Film Premiere – March 2021
The mother/daughter portrait in the new film Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché makes this new punk era documentary set for March 2021 unusual in the genre. It’s personal. With rave reviews from Mark Kermode and headlines at the Glasgow Film Festival and SXSW (South By SouthWest) the film is set for at-home viewing on March 5th through live streaming.
X-Ray Spex, Elation and Despair
The film follows Celeste Bell, daughter of late X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene (real name Marianne Elliott-Said), as she pursues the truth about her mother – and memories of being as young as four when she remembers seeing Poly in a “constant cycle of elation and despair” as she lived with fame.
The book is here.
Sonic Youth, Bikini Kill and Neneh Cherry
Bell directs the film, with diary entries belonging to Styrene narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Ruth Negga.
The documentary also features commentary from Vivienne Westwood, Don Letts, Jonathan Ross, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill), Neneh Cherry and more figures from the music world.
Ahead of Her Time
Anglo-Somali singer Styrene was the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful punk band – she was the unforgettable talent behind the million-plus viewed YouTube punk classic, Oh Bondage Up Yours! and The Day The World Turned Day-Glo.
Celeste Bell, critically acclaimed rock biographer Zoë Howe and director Paul Sng have made punk rock intensely personal for Poly fans in this must-see, crowd-funded documentary.
Watch the Trailer Exclusively at the NME
Watch the trailer here.
About Poly’s Daughter, Celeste
Celeste Bell spent her earliest years living on a Hare Krishna commune in the Hertfordshire countryside with her mother, Poly Styrene.
After completing her degree from Queen Mary University of London, Celeste settled in Madrid where she worked as a teacher and formed ska-punk band Debutant Disco.
After finishing a Master’s degree in Barcelona, Celeste returned to London to work alongside Zoë Howe on Day Glo! The Poly Styrene Story, published by Omnibus Press in 2019. They then joined forces with Paul Sng to make Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, a film to accompany the book.
Watch the Film at Home on March 5th
Buy a ticket here to watch the film at home on March 5th with a ticket that lasts 48 hours.
