Fish Tank Review
In Fish Tank, 15 year old Mia (Katie Jarvis) lives in a cheap flat in Essex, England. She drinks and gets into fights on the streets. She also has a strong passion for hip-hop dancing which she believes that will help her get out of Essex. She lives with her younger sister Tyler (Rebecca Griffiths) and her mother Joanne (Kierston Wareing) who she doesn't have a good relationship at all with. She has no friends and feels that her life sucks. Overall she's a very angry person. One day out of the blue, her mother brings home a new boyfriend, Connor (Michael Fassbender) who she becomes interested in. Connor helps Mia in her journey to becoming a dancer by giving her a camera to help with video auditions and even shows her music such as Bobby Womack's cover of California Dreamin' which Mia dances to. Connor eventually moves in and even sleeps with Mia. Mia thinks it's love and Connor knows it's a mistake. He leaves to go back to his own place and Mia follows him when she discovers something about him that makes her even more hurt and angry than before. Then she decides to teach Connor a lesson.
Fish Tank takes it's title by comparing Essex to a giant fish tank. Mia wants to leave but she can't no matter how hard she tries. Fish Tank doesn't try to be more than what it is. It isn't trying to send a message about poverty or anything at all. It's a story about people that go through real issues in the world. It's that simple. It doesn't sugarcoat anything. It shows the sad reality of the world. Some 11 year olds drink and smoke and sometimes do drugs. Sometimes mothers ignore or even hate their daughters. Not everyone has a happy life. And not everyone has the chance to follow their dreams. It's the sad reality but it is, again, reality.
We don't know how old Mia is until after she sleeps with Connor which really shocks the audience when you find out. However there are hints throughout the film. Early on, when the camera pans around Mia's bedroom, there are children's knick-knacks like a snowglobe and other things. Other hints would include how Mia has to sneak alcohol instead of buying it herself (in the UK it is legal if you are 18) and how Mia acts like a child sometimes for example she jumps on Connor's back sometimes or even her tantrums. However it is still a shock when you find out her age
Fish Tank is a powerful film. When you watch it, it is very hard to tell that Katie Jarvis has no prior acting. Director Andrea Arnold discovered her arguing with her boyfriend and immediately asked her if she wanted the part. Michael Fassbender, again, gives another fantastic performance and shows us that he can play any part you throw at him.
