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Hold Up!

🎬 I'm NOT your casual movie reviewer!

I don't do plot overviews or safe, spoiler-free summaries. For that stuff, there's Wikipedia.

What I DO: I share my raw, unfiltered experience and thoughts on movies and TV shows. That means MAJOR SPOILERS could hit you in the very first line of any review.

I talk about films the way you'd chat with a friend who's already seen them. No dancing around plot points. No vague hints. Just honest, spoiler-filled conversation.

You've been warned. Now let's have a real talk about movies! 🍿

Fish Tank (2009)

A promotional image from the movie "Fish Tank" featuring actress Katie Jarvis as the character Mia. Shot from a low angle, the young woman stands with a defiant expression, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood up. In the background is a blue sky with clouds, and a line of apartment buildings in the distance.

Plot Summary: Mia, a troubled and isolated 15-year-old living in an Essex council estate, dreams of becoming a dancer. When her mother brings home a charming new boyfriend, Connor, the family dynamic shifts. As Mia develops a complex relationship with Connor, their interactions lead to consequences that change her outlook on life.

Director: Andrea Arnold
Writer: Andrea Arnold
Producers: Nick Laws, Kees Kasander
Cinematography: Robbie Ryan
Editor: Nicolas Chaudeurge
Music: Steel Pulse

Starring:
Katie Jarvis as Mia
Michael Fassbender as Connor
Kierston Wareing as Joanne
Rebecca Griffiths as Tyler
Harry Treadaway as Billy
Sydney Mary Nash as Keira
 Freddy and Krasnaya Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

KRASNAYA:
Fish Tank was shot by award-winning, but unfortunately unknown to me, director Andrea Arnold. So, again, thank you to Freddy for showing me this movie and making me learn more about it. This is an extremely sad film which gives you some hope in the end. Mia (Katie Jarvis) is a completely lonely girl in her fifteens, living in a depressing gray, lower-class neighborhood in London. There are two things that make her life easier - hip-hop dancing and alcohol. The realism in the movie shows the daily life of such neighborhoods where kids drink alcohol, smoke, and swear like adults. This made me feel very sad.
Watch the director speaking after receiving the BAFTA award:

FREDDY:
Second time I've seen this film, and it's now officially one of my favorite drama movies, which means I might buy the poster pretty soon. I love the way this movie is shot; love how the camera follows Mia. When she dances, it gets blurry and the camera closes on her, giving the impression that there isn't enough space or freedom. This is her life, a fish tank. Katie Jarvis' performance is amazing; she makes her character so credible, it's hard not to believe that she's from that neighborhood. Oh wait, she is! This movie gets me very emotional and I come crumbling down with Mia when she's told about the horse. Every other actor does a great job, and you gotta love pottymouth Rebeca Griffiths. "Your scary feet will scare those fish away" - favorite line from Tyler.
KRASNAYA:
About the cast. It's perfectly chosen, and Katie Jarvis, who hasn't acted before and was suddenly heard by a casting agent while having an argument with her boyfriend, played her role amazingly and truthfully. She hasn't done much since, but I hope we'll see her playing again. Michael Fassbender is awesome as usual, playing a sweet bitter mother's boyfriend. Andrea Arnold only handed out the second part of the script after the first part was recorded. This is a great idea that probably ended up giving more realism to the whole movie.
Watch the interview with Fassbender here:

FREDDY:
"Life's a Bitch" by Nas is so spot on, so nicely put in that scene. They're dancing to this laid-back and jazzy beat after all the shit that went down, and this closing scene leaves me reflecting in a melancholic mood. Andrea Arnold did an outstanding original piece of film.
KRASNAYA:
My resume - this movie should be on every cinema fan must watch list, you definitely will find something of your own to think about and probably change something in your life. Mia was totally into dancing, and freedom came along with the sun every time she practiced. But even her favorite hobby played a cruel joke on her.
FREDDY:
Watch it, comment on my blog and listen to the awesome single "Life's a Bitch":

Krasnaya's Score

95/100

Freddy's Score

96/100

🎬 You Might Also Enjoy:

➤ Sticky Notes (2016) A film exploring the story of a struggling dancer trying to make it in LA, with similar themes of ambition and difficult family dynamics
➤ Night Always Comes (2025) Another gritty, realistic drama focusing on a young woman navigating difficult circumstances and class struggles
➤ Ali & Ava (2021) A contemporary British love story set against the backdrop of working-class Bradford, with similar social realism to Fish Tank
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