Review: Fish Tank

Posted March 23, 2011 by Max in Review

Fish Tank is unlike any movie I’ve seen lately and maybe that’s why it made such a good impression.
Fish Tank stars Katie Jarvis as Mia, a fifteen-year-old girl living in Essex. She lives to dance and it’s not your typical dancing either. She wants to dance like the hip-hop stars on television and get out of the hell hole that surrounds her life.

In the beginning, it seems like Mia is a troublesome child. She starts fights on the street and tries to steal a horse. Her family situation is a mess, with her younger sister cursing like a sailor and her mother more concerned about her own life then the life of her children.

Everything changes for their family dynamic the day Connor (Michael Fassbender) comes into their lives. He stars having a serious relationship with Mia’s mother, Joanne, and moves in with the family. With Connor there, Mia’s little sister has a father figure and they seem like a coherent family, if just for a little while. All good things come to an end, but the way this story comes to an end is certainly unexpected. (Spoilers Follow)

One night while living at Mia’s house, Connor has sex with Mia. Mia believes it is real love while Connor thinks it’s a huge mistake. He quickly leaves, ending his relationship with Mia and Mia’s mother in the same instance. Mia follows Connor to his house and unexpectedly finds Connor has a wife and child. Mia makes sure Connor will never forget her.

Fish Tank comes off short of grungy with its bleak setting and outcome. Everyone is trapped in their surroundings, unable to get out of the tank they life in. By the films’ close, Mia has hopefully made it out. Whether or not she is successful is anyone’s guess. Hopefully she has learned from her mistake and can live her life with new understanding.

Fish Tank won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, BAFTA Film Award for Outstanding British Film and countless other awards. Fish Tank is now on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as, Netflix streaming courtesy of the Criterion Collection. Fish Tank comes Highly Recommended.

[Rating:4]

Fish Tank
Starring: Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender and Kierston Wareing
Directed by: Andrea Arnold
Available now on DVD and Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection
Source: IMDB.com
Images Courtesy of www.DVDbeaver.com