Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard, and today I’m joined by writer-director Ali Cook to talk about his Oscar-shortlisted new short film, The Pearl Comb. Starring Beatie Edney (Highlander) and Ali Cook (Kajaki), The Pearl Comb follows the wife of a fisherman whose miraculous healing powers draw the scrutiny of the medical establishment. When she becomes the first person known to cure tuberculosis, a skeptical doctor is sent to investigate. Set in a time when women were barred from practicing medicine, the film explores power, belief, and the limits society places on women—what begins as an attempt to expose her becomes a journey that challenges long-held scientific and gender-based assumptions. Inspired by the true story of the Edinburgh Seven, the first women to study medicine in the UK, The Pearl Comb blends historical drama with mysticism. We also discuss Ali's remarkable career as both a magician and stand-up comedian and dig into h...