The Ballad of Shirley Collins

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.

Directed by Rob Curry, Tim Plester, The Ballad of Shirley Collins leans on a strong ensemble — Shirley Collins, Hannah Arterton, Stewart Lee — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2017.