Fish Tank
In the very beginning of this film, it is obvious that we are seeing a young disturbed teenager. Mia is fifteen years old living in an apartment in a low-rent housing project in Essex, England. Her mother is an uncaring, heavy drinker who doesn’t make a real home life for Mia or her younger sister Tyler. Mia constantly finds herself in trouble, picking fights with people, her mother and her sister. Lacking any love, Mia finds solace when she is alone by turning on music and dancing. Her life seems to change when her mother’s new boyfriend Conner arrives on the scene. Conner takes an interest in her; is very supportive of her and her dancing. But as the film progresses, we discover there is more to Conner than meets the eye. When he finally breaks up with her mother, Mia finds out the truth about him.
Written and directed by Academy Award winning writer/director Andrea Arnold, the film bristles with a cast of extremely fine actors. It is especially amazing to see Katie Jarvis in the difficult role of Mia; one could hardly believe that she had never acted before. Arnold had been looking everywhere for a teenage girl to play Mia and discovered 17-year old Katie on Tilbury Town Station arguing with her boyfriend. Equally interesting is that Tyler is also played by a young girl, Rebecca Griffiths, making her acting debut as well. Arnold said that “from the outset of the project she was keen to cast as many non-actors as possible.” Kierston Wareing performs the role of Joanne, mother to Mia and Tyler. And Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds), in a change-of-pace, plays Conner.
There was much about this film that I enjoyed, particularly the fine acting. I found the British accents, more often than not, more than difficult to understand. I was also disturbed by the fact that a young girl (although she may not be innocent) was put in a role where she was totally compromised.
122 Minutes, English, in Color
Although this film has not been rated, I can assure you it should be rated R.
Opening Friday, January 29, in Los Angeles