Review of Fish Tank (2009) by Sean C — 25 Feb 2011

I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised with Fish Tank.

It reminded me in some ways of Winter's Bone. Both are about young women growing up in less than the ideal circumstances, with no father around. They're both unflinching in their portrayals of bleak realities, and they both feature excellent performances from the young actresses at the center of the story. Like Jennifer Lawrence, Katie Jarvis is an actress to keep an eye on. The character of Mia could have been easy to dislike or pity, but Katie plays her in a way that let's us keep both her flaws and her good qualities in perspective at all times. It's impressive to watch.

The story starts off simply enough, as we're introduced to Mia, an angry, lonely 15 year old living in council housing in Essex. She loves hip-hop dancing, has a selfish, immature mother, and a younger sister who's clearly being shaped by her environment and parental indifference in the same manner that Mia was. Mia's mother brings home a new man (Michael Fassbender, in another of what's become a string of great roles that have made me a fan), who seems to be a positive influence on the entire family.

That's all the plot synopsis you're getting from me. Some might consider the story depressing, but I found it ultimately (and genuinely) hopeful. It doesn't go in completely unexpected directions, but it's believably honest.

Fish Tank is a prime example of why I love movies. It's more than the sum of its parts. It's an experience that takes me out of my own life for a few hours, and gives me a piece of someone else's. That's a powerful thing.