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“I'd always been told that I was born before my time. Oh, surely to God, the times can just catch up.” - Florence Broadhurst
In this spirited and highly original documentary, acclaimed director Gillian Armstrong fleshes out the many lives of flamboyant Australian design pioneer Florence Broadhurst.
When she was found murdered in her studio in 1977, few guessed her age, let alone her origins because invention and reinvention were the keys to her success. Now, almost 100 years after her birth, Broadhurst's fashion, interior and homeware designs and prints are in huge demand internationally, and her tragic death still remains an unsolved mystery.
Armstrong says of Broadhurst, “She was a fighter, a perfectionist and didn't suffer fools, and the documentary also shows her tough side and her struggles. Florence had guts.”
“Sutures talking heads, Monty Pythonesque animation and re-enactments to explore the life of a Down Under country girl whose identities included a singing flapper and English socialite before eventually finding local fame as a wallpaper magnate.” - Variety

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D Gillian Armstrong P Sue Clothier, Charles Hannah S Katherine Thompson Dist Dendy TD 35mm/2005/82mins

Gillian Armstrong was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1950. Her films include My Brilliant Career (1979), High Tide (1987) and Little Women (1994).