Review of Fish Tank (2009) by Simona N — 23 Jul 2010
Andrea Arnold's "Fish Tank" is one of the best films of the year, a raw, powerful, and uncompromising look at an adolescent struggling to find her sense of identity. It takes place in the low rent world of the British working class, and tells the story of Mia Williams, a 15 year old girl neglected by her emotional mess of a mother and the world around her, burdened with little hope for the future.
Arnold makes nothing easy for the viewer, diving headfirst into her heroine's world with kinetic, verite energy that mirrors Mia's rage and restlessness. The core of the picture concerns the troubling relationship she has with the mother's new boyfriend, a man with serious issues not fully (at least initially) understood by her.
The screenplay unfolds at a natural pace, and slowly reveals its surprises and layers. Katie Jarvis is dynamite as Mia, giving a wildly unhinged portrayal of a turbulent mind. In the end, Arnold does not offer much in the way of optimistic sentiment, but she never lets a note ring false.
This is a real portrait of a real life. I didn't feel cheated.
This review of Fish Tank (2009) was written by Simona N on 23 Jul 2010.
Fish Tank has generally received very positive reviews.
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