Comedy Cult Classic

A naive art student tumbles through love, loss, and London's wildest scenes in this 1968 musical drama.

JOANNA

She's top banana…

1968 · 1h 48m · R · Comedy / Drama / Musical · IMDB TMDB

When 17 year old Joanna comes to Swinging London, she meets a host of colourful characters, discovers the pleasures of casual sex and falls in love. That's when things get complicated.

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Vault Note

Proof that not every art student’s gap year ends with a diploma—or a stable relationship.

Programmer's Pick

Swinging London gets a bittersweet filter in Michael Sarne's Joanna, where the psychedelic parties come with real-world hangovers. Geneviève Waïte’s wide-eyed Joanna ricochets from artist lofts to Moroccan villas, collecting lovers and complications along the way. It’s a mod morality play with a killer cast and a soundtrack that grooves as hard as the heartbreak.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Quick Answer

What is Joanna about?

Joanna is a 1968 United Kingdom comedy, drama, and musical film directed by Michael Sarne about a naive art student navigating romance and heartbreak among London's bohemian set.

Themes & Keywords

romance heartbreak art casual sex friendship crime illness pregnancy bohemian lifestyle London Morocco art student gold-digger aristocrat criminal aspiring painter

Synopsis

Joanna, a wide-eyed somewhat naive art student in London, has a romantic fling with her teacher, aspiring painter Hendrik Casson. She eventually leaves him for impoverished Dominic, while her gold-digging friend Beryl takes up with the quite wealthy Lord Sanderson.

They travel to Sanderson's second home in Morocco, where he reveals that he has a terminal illness and sponsors an exhibit of Hendrik's paintings. Meanwhile, Dominic dumps Joanna because she refuses to stop seeing other men.

Joanna's next lover, Beryl's brother Gordon, impregnates her. Beaten by criminals to whom he's in debt, Gordon takes revenge by killing one. He is convicted of murder and sent to prison, leaving Joanna alone.

Details & Specs

Director: Michael Sarne
Writer: Michael Sarne
Release: 1968
Runtime: 1h 48m
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical

Why Cult

Swinging London Vibes

Set in the heart of 1968 London, Joanna soaks up the bohemian, anything-goes spirit of the era with art students, parties, and a dash of mod excess.

Musical-Drama Blend

This film doesn’t just talk the talk—it sings and dances through heartbreak, romance, and tragedy, blending comedy, drama, and musical genres.

Eccentric Cast of Characters

From a terminally ill aristocrat to a gold-digging friend and a string of doomed lovers, Joanna’s world is teeming with colorful personalities and tangled relationships.

Moroccan Excursion

The action isn’t limited to London—Joanna and friends escape to Morocco, where secrets unravel and the drama takes an international turn.

Questions from the Vault

What is Joanna about? +

Joanna follows a naive art student in London as she gets entangled with a series of lovers and friends, navigating romance, heartbreak, and the vibrant counterculture of 1968.

When was Joanna released? +

Joanna was released in 1968.

Who directed Joanna? +

Joanna was directed by Michael Sarne.

How long is Joanna? +

Joanna has a runtime of 108 minutes.

What genre is Joanna? +

Joanna is a comedy, drama, and musical.

Where can I watch Joanna? +

Joanna is available on SassyFlix.