Review: Fish Tank (2010, Arnold)
May 4th 2010 00:09
Fish Tank (Arnold, 2010)
Written May 3, 2010
The British film Fish Tank captures moments, both trivial and significant, in the life of an angry 15-year old girl living in an Essex housing complex. The film is directed by Andrea Arnold wand contains some brilliant camera work fitting to the stark realism portrayed within; Arnold is definitely influenced by the films of Mike Leigh.
Fish Tank focuses on Mia, played by newcomer Katie Jarvis. Mia is volatile, alienated, and angry. She gets into fights, drinks, and curses up a storm. Mia’s mother is abusive, more so verbally than physically and looks no more than 30-years old. Mia’s sister may be only 10 or so, yet she smokes, drinks, and swears almost as much as Mia and her mother. These are their lives and how they are conditioned. One day, a man comes into the kitchen while Mia is dancing along to a music video. His name is Connor (Michael Fassbender) and he’s about to become the catalyst for forthcoming events. The relationship between Mia and Connor is transfixing along with slightly disturbing. It’s interesting because this relationship could have been something almost entirely different and nearly is.
At first, Connor’s actions and Mia’s interest almost have a paternal feel; he carries her to bed when she’s fallen asleep and takes off her shoes; he aids the wound on her foot after she steps on a rock. Things soon become something deeper and darker and the last act contains something incredibly predictable which is then completely overshadowed by inexplicably disturbing events. This film is so unique.
Mia dances; it’s her escape. She soon decides to try out for an audition; this could be her way out. This isn’t that type of film. Mia tries to rescue a horse she feels is being starved to death. She goes back numerous times to rescue the animal. When Mia looks at her, it’s with wonder and intent; she’s that horse, chained to a rock with nowhere to go. She’s a fish in a tank with nowhere to swim but in a circle. Fish Tank is not about giving reviewers a happy ending; it’s called realism for a reason. Even the films final minutes aren’t ones of joy but more of ‘what now?’ even if they do consist of some liberation.
Katie Jarvis gives a hauntingly raw performance that one must wonder exactly how much she is acting. After all, Arnold discovered her while she was having a screaming match with her boyfriend on a train platform. She’s 18 years old, has a two-year old daughter and grew up in the same type of housing estate like the one featured in the film. Jarvis very well may have been living out some aspects of her life, and it’s her believability that sets this film apart from others in this type of genre. Michael Fassbender is superb as well and his scenes with Jarvis are electrifying. One of the film’s final scenes, which take place in Mia’s living room, is one of the greatest scenes ever captured on celluloid. Fish Tank is gritty realism without the melodrama. When compared to films like Precious, or even An Education, Fish Tank is in a completely different league. It doesn’t rely on explanations for motivations; it simply exists. Arnold shot the film in chronological order and only handed out the scenes at the end of each week before they were shot; this adds to the film’s realism. After all, none of us know exactly what the future holds.
Author’s Note: It must be added that Katie Jarvis is stunningly beautiful in that every-day ordinary way. So refreshing.
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