EXCLUSIVE: One of this year’s crop of shortlisted projects in the Short Film category has been exclusively released on Disney+ in Europe. The Pearl Comb is now on the Disney platform and the streaming release comes as double Academy Award nominee Miranda Richardson and Oscar-nominated producer David Lancaster have become exec producers on the gothic fantasy, which hails from writer-actor-director Ali Cook.
The film has had a fulsome festival run landing various accolades along the way, including two awards at the British Short Film Awards. It stars Beatie Edney (Highlander), Clara Paget (Too Much) and Simon Armstrong (Game of Thrones).
Set in 1893 England, it centers on a fisherman’s wife who becomes the first person ever to cure tuberculosis. When a skeptical doctor — intent on proving that women have no place in medicine — begins investigating her work, he uncovers the uncanny source of her power. Inspired by the true story of the first women to study medicine in the UK, the film meshes gothic atmosphere and historical detail.
Speaking about coming on board as EP, Richardson said: “Ali Cook has created something truly special — a film that feels both honest and timeless. He combines fantasy, drama, mystery and horror, even weaving in some comedic beats, but keeps mastery of tone throughout.”
Lancaster, whose producing credits include Whiplash and Nightcrawler, said: “Ali Cook has pulled off a fabulously freaky fable — it feels as if Robert Eggers were channeling Guillermo del Toro. This twisted period piece surprises at every turn, blending myth and mermaid, empathy and evil, and building to a crackling finish.”
The Pearl Comb filmmaker Cook gave Deadline the lowdown on his project in an interview earlier this week.
Disney has added several of the Oscar-shortlisted short films to its streaming service. The Pearl Comb joins Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Fry-starrer A Friend Of Dorothy, and Domnhall Gleeson voiced and EP’d Retirement Plan on Disney+ across Europe.
