In this SHE WILL Special, Anna Smith talks to four key women behind the extraordinary female-focused folk horror: actor Alice Krige whose other work includes the Borg Queen in STAR TREK and Alma/Eva in GHOST STORY; director and co-writer Charlotte Colbert whose other work includes THE SILENT MAN, screenwriter Kitty Percy, and BIFA- nominated producer Jessica Malik whose other productions include LEADING LADY PARTS and ESTRANGED.
The film explores the story of Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige) who after a double mastectomy goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her young nurse Desi (Kota Eberhardt). Veronica discovers that the process of the surgery opens up questions about her very existence, and begins to confront past trauma.
The retreat is said to have special powers because it was a site where witches were burned and there are large amounts of women’s ashes in the earth. Veronica discovers her power and what agencies can heal her past and present wounds.
Alice Krige talks about the complex role she plays, the themes of the film including surviving abuse and breast cancer – and rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Charlotte Colbert, Kitty Percy and Jessica Malik talk about the challenges of filming in a remote location in Scotland and the joyous collaboration of the female team who made the film, which made it better and better.
She Will is out in cinemas in the UK this weekend from 22 July 2022.