New Showbiz

You are here:
The Ballad of Shirley Collins

The Ballad of Shirley Collins

2017

Director

Rob Curry, Tim Plester

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

One of the most important English singers of 20th-century traditional song, Shirley Collins and her sister Dolly stood at the epicentre of the folk music revival from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Directors Rob Curry and Tim Plester have created a poetic response to the life and times of this totemic musical figure. Four years in the making, and co-produced by Fifth Column Films and Burning Bridges, The Ballad of Shirley Collins is the fascinating first release from Fire Films – available to you exclusively through the Lush Player. A captivating study of heritage, posterity, and the true ancestral melodies of the people, this heart-warming film revolves around Shirley's tragic loss of her voice and struggle back to the limelight. And ultimately, it suggests that in these turbulent, increasingly untethered times, we may need Shirley Collins and all she represents more than ever.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.3/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film centers on the biographical journey of Shirley and Dolly Collins. There is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives within the story.

Gender Representation

Good

The documentary disrupts hierarchies by positioning Shirley Collins as a totemic cultural leader. It emphasizes female agency and the significant bond between sisters within the folk movement.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The narrative focuses on a relatively homogeneous Anglo-Saxon musical heritage. It explores English traditional song without evidence of a multi-ethnic cast or diverse racial representation.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film engages with communal identity and ancestral melodies to critique modern disconnection. It maintains a traditionalist focus on English folk history and heritage.

Disability Representation

Good

The story explores the lived experience of Shirley’s tragic loss of her voice. It frames her struggle as a journey of resilience and professional reclamation.

Strengths

  • Centers a female figure as a powerful and important cultural authority.
  • Provides a dignified exploration of vocal disability and professional resilience.
  • Highlights the importance of preserving traditional, non-commercial cultural heritage.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of diverse racial and ethnic identities.
  • Does not include explicit LGBTQ+ narratives or queer identity politics.
  • Focuses heavily on a specific, homogeneous Anglo-Saxon cultural history.

AI Analysis

The film succeeds as a nuanced biographical study that centers female agency and explores the impact of physical impairment. It provides a meaningful look at cultural heritage and the preservation of oral histories. However, the documentary remains limited by its narrow focus on a specific Anglo-Saxon musical tradition. This results in low racial and ethnic diversity, as the subject matter is inherently tied to a homogeneous historical period. Ultimately, while it does not pursue radical intersectional politics, it offers a profound look at resilience and the importance of ancestral connection in a modern world.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.