Film Review ..

Fish Tank Film Review ..

Unloved, lifeless Mia played by Katie Jarvis stars in a BAFTA Award winning film in 2010 named Fish Tank, where Mia discovers her passion for dancing but her life is full of negativity and abuse. She lives in an Essex estate with her tarty mother, Joanne, and intelligent little sister Tyler. Her mother is a careless, useless drunkard who doesn’t pay any interest in her kid’s life but rather focuses her attention on the boyfriend, Conner, who in time is actually a married man with a child. Mia’s life completely changes when the mother’s boyfriend arrives.

Andrea Arnold, the director also directed three short films- “Milk” in 1998 and “Dog” in 2001 and “Wasp” in 2003 which made her become known as the up and coming filmmaker with lots of talent. She then made “Fish Tank”. The film was backed by the Limelight Fund, BBC Films, and the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund. Because the film was only short in around 50 cinemas she was upset and said, “I definitely feel sorry more people don’t get to see my films. They aren’t inaccessible. I wish cinema owners could be braver, or had more money to help them show films like mine.” She feels really strong about her film Fish Tank because of the meaning behind it. The fact that Mia can’t actually dance but dancing is her only last hope shows that she wants something she can’t have, she’s on the inside looking out and trying to reach for something that isn’t accessible.

During the film her mother says something about Mia never having a boyfriend which shows that Mia hasn’t experienced life properly so when Conner the mother’s boyfriend shows a little interest in her she starts to experience things never before which she likes so she unconsciously craves more and more until eventually she loses it and kidnaps Connors child, in my opinion I feel they go too far because it could really effect someone emotionally. 

In the opening scene you see Mia walking around the streets, slurring and shouting abuse at anyone in her radar, In a way you also most feel sorry for her because she’s abused by everyone and no one really cares for her, this also means because she hurt so much she feels she needs to be abusive back so when some tries to help her she doesn’t know how to react thus making her push people away making her feel alone in the world. I really believe she plays her role remarkably as it’s really believable and we almost feel what she does.

Katie Jarvis was actually discovered at Tilbury Town railway station when she was having an argument with her boyfriend across the platforms, she wasn’t attending school and was suffering from unemployed when she was cast in her first film.

The other Characters (such as Conner played by Michael Fassbender, Joanne played by Kierston Wareing, Tyler played by Rebecca Griffiths and Billy played by Harry Treadaway) also add to the realism because they play the roles so well especially Mia’s little sister Tyler.  Tyler really shows us the pain in their life through the language she uses towards her mother. By calling her mother a “tramp” and a “whore” she A, shows her hatred towards her mum and B, shows how she’s been brought up into an abusive life where no one cares for anyone.

The genre of this film is Drama; I feel the mood of this film is negative, depressing and sad. When I think of the drama genre this film wouldn’t really come to mind however this film shows the Drama genre really well as what happens to her is dramatic. Also the film’s rated 15; I agree with the BBFC rating this film 15 as the language used is highly explicit. To be completely honest this whole film is explicit; however the language is very unpleasant and the target audience itself is aimed at teenagers because many people in one or two ways can relate to her as many also have life’s like her, reaching for the unreachable; trapped in a fish tank looking out at the world and wanting more.

Most of the music and sound played was diegetic sound which is understandable as most of the music is played when she’s dancing. I think it’s good there was no non-diegetic sound because it makes the film more realistic. The one song played in the end when the mother and two daughters are dancing in the living room is called “Life’s a Bitch” this song creates a violent, ruff atmosphere; the song almost hints the estate life.