All Photos By Gail

In the 2019 Folk Horror film Misommar,  the May Queen Dress is worn by lead character Dani (played by Florence Pugh) in the story’s intense concluding sequences. The elaborate gown features 10,000 silk flowers, including forget-me-nots, sweet peas, and butter cups, and weighs 30 pounds.

May Queen Dress, Rear View

As the film’s characters spend more time with the Swedish commune and its residents, the costumes become more detailed and elaborate. Designer Andrea Flesch meticulously followed what she called an “evolution of ornamentation” when putting the dress together.

This gigantic, imaginative piece underscores the hallucinogenic and surreal nature of Dani’s journey throughout the film.

Photographed in the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.