Fish Tank (2009)

Director:

Andrea Arnold

Writer:

Andrea Arnold (written by)

Release Date:

11 September 2009 (Ireland)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Live, love and give as good as you get.

Plot:

Everything changes for 15-year-old Mia when her mum brings home a new boyfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Essex | Girl | Dancing | Little Sister | 15 Year Old

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 18 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Katie Jarvis	...	Mia
Michael Fassbender	...	Connor
Kierston Wareing	...	Joanne
Rebecca Griffiths	...	Tyler
Harry Treadaway	...	Billy
Sydney Mary Nash	...	Keira
Carrie-Ann Savill	...	Tyler's Friend
Toyin Ogidi	...	Tyler's Friend
Grant Wild	...	Keeley's Dad
Sarah Bayes	...	Keeley
Charlotte Collins	...	Tall Dancing Girl
Kirsty Smith	...	Dancing Girl
Chelsea Chase	...	Dancing Girl
Brooke Hobby	...	Dancing Girl
Jason Maza	...	Billy's Brother
Alan Francis	...	Free Runner
Ben Francis	...	Free Runner
Jack Gordon	...	Billy's Brother
Syrus	...	Tennents the Dog
Michael Prior	...	Connor's Friend
Dave Hawley	...	Snogging Man
Lisa Mahoney	...	Snogging Woman
Sarah Counsell	...	Social Worker
Nick Staverson	...	Shouting Man
Sunanda Biswas	...	Breaker
Gavin Cooper	...	Breaker
Amir Saleem	...	Breaker
Jody Schroeder	...	Breaker
Fase Alzakwani	...	Breaker
Stella McGowan	...	Breaker
Mia Copas	...	Breaker
Anthony Geary	...	Van Man (as Tony Geary)
Hannah-Marie Keeble	...	Danton Road Girl
Joanna Horton	...	Kelly
Charlie Baker	...	Podium Girl
Peter Roue	...	Club DJ
Geoff McCracken	...	Club Man
Val King	...	Club Woman
Kishana Thomas	...	Audition Girl
Raquel Thomas	...	Audition Girl
Natasha Ilic	...	Audition Girl
Maxine Brogan	...	Audition Girl
Kirsty Page	...	Audition Girl
Georgia Crane	...	Audition Girl

Directed by
Andrea Arnold

Writing credits
Andrea Arnold		(written by)

Produced by
Kees Kasander	....	producer
Lisette Kelder	....	associate producer
Christine Langan	....	executive producer
Nick Laws	....	producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer
Paul Trijbits	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Phonso Martin		(as Steel Pulse)

Cinematography by
Robbie Ryan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nicolas Chaudeurge

Casting by
Jill Trevellick

Production Design by
Helen Scott

Art Direction by
Christopher Wyatt

Costume Design by
Jane Petrie

Makeup Department
Alex King	....	makeup assistant
Marese Langan	....	hair & make-up designer

Production Management
John David Gunkle	....	unit manager (as David Gunkle)
Beth Timbrell	....	production manager
Emma Zee	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lee Grumett	....	first assistant director
Carley Lane	....	third assistant director
Jo Tew	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Maxine Carlier	....	stand-by art director
Oliver Hazell	....	dressing props
Johnny Mellor	....	dressing props
Jason Orr	....	propmaster
Thomas Power	....	prop hand
Carly Shenstone	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Per Boström	....	sound re-recording mixer
Naomi Dandridge	....	adr recordist
Tom Deane	....	adr mixer
Linda Forsén	....	dialogue editor
Christer Melén	....	sound effects editor
Lotta Nilsson	....	foley recordist
Ulf Olausson	....	foley artist
Rashad Omar	....	sound recordist
Joakim Sundström	....	supervising sound editor
Will Whale	....	sound maintenance engineer (as William Whale)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dan Alterman	....	compositor: Rushes
Michael Deming	....	digital film bureau: Ascent 142 Features
Joseph Dymond	....	compositor: Rushes
Chris Elson	....	compositor: Rushes
Sukh Gill	....	visual effects coordinator: Rushes
Noel Harmes	....	compositor: Rushes
Neil Harrison	....	digital intermediate systems administrator
Louise Hussey	....	visual effects producer: Rushes
Timothy P. Jones	....	digital film bureau: Ascent 142 Features
Anthony Laranjo	....	compositor: Rushes
John Palmer	....	digital film bureau manager: Ascent 142 Features
Gordon Pratt	....	digital film bureau: Ascent 142 Features
Jonathan Privett	....	visual effects supervisor: Rushes
Laurent Treherne	....	digital film technical supervisor: Ascent 142 Features
Alan Williamson	....	data management: Rushes

Stunts
Abbi Collins	....	stunt coordinator
Sarah Franzl	....	stunt coordinator
James O'Donnell	....	stunts (as James O'Dee)
Karen Smithson	....	safety driver
James Grogan	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rachel Clark	....	second assistant camera
Andy Cole	....	rigging gaffer
John Colley	....	gaffer
Holly Horner	....	still photographer
Naresh Kaushal	....	clapper loader
Tony Kay	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Watters	....	focus puller
Victoria Hanna	....	clapper loader: dailies (uncredited)
James Matai	....	clapper loader: dailies (uncredited)
Chris Stevens	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sarah Counsell	....	casting assistant
Lucy Pardee	....	casting assistant
Gustavo Portugal	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Holly Freeman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Siobhan Boyes	....	post-production coordinator
Paul Dean	....	supervising rushes colorist
Rob Farris	....	digital intermediate producer
Marie Fernandes	....	digital intermediate producer
Rob Gordon	....	digital on-line editor
Emily Greenwood	....	digital on-line editor
Rebecca Lloyd	....	first assistant editor
Patrick Malone	....	digital intermediate head of production
Alexandra Montgomery	....	post-production coordinator
Rob Pizzey	....	digital colorist
Aurora Shannon	....	digital intermediate assistant colorist
Laurent Treherne	....	digital film technical supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Alison Butters	....	music clearance (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Paul Gatley	....	driver: mpv
Steve John	....	driver: camera truck
David Lewis	....	unit driver (as Dave Lewis)
Geoff McCracken	....	driver: minibus

Other crew
Alison Balch	....	head of international operations: ContentFlm International
Liz Barron	....	representative: Limelight
Natalie Bass	....	legal services: Lee & Thompson
Judith Baugin	....	head of international marketing: ContentFilm International
Graham Begg	....	head of film & television finance: ContentFilm International
Sunanda Biswas	....	choreographer
Rona Brown	....	animal consultant: dogs
Jamie Carmichael	....	president: ContentFilm International
Emma Clarke	....	senior production executive: UK Film Council
Paul Collard	....	vice president film and digital services: Soho Film Lab
Leonard Crooks	....	head of New Cinema Fund: UK Film Council
Emma Davie	....	unit publicist
Marie Dong	....	assistant accountant
Sandra Downing	....	chaperone
Peter Eardley	....	production accountant
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Alex Gardner	....	unit nurse
Ben Gladstone	....	location manager
Jane Hawley	....	production executive: BBC Films
Michael Henry	....	representative: Limelight
Mick Hurrell	....	health and safety advisor
Ineke Kanters	....	representative: Kasander
Alexandra Keen	....	legal advisor: ContentFilm International, Lee & Thompson
Stephen Kingsley	....	legal representative: Limelight, Thurloe & Lyndhurst
Alexander Lewis	....	accounts trainee
Ivan Mactaggart	....	representative: Limelight
Christos Michaels	....	legal advisor: ContentFilm International, Lee & Thompson
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Kathleen Mullins	....	chaperone
Genevieve Nash	....	chaperone
Beatrice Neumann	....	legal advisor: ContentFilm International, Lee & Thompson
Kevin O'Shea	....	insurance: AON/Albert G Ruben
Emma Olrich-Smith	....	production coordinator
Beth Pattinson	....	development editor: BBC Films
Ann Peck	....	chaperone
Kate Penlington	....	negative checks: Raging Goose London
Natasha Pilbrow	....	legal services: Lee & Thompson
Amanda Pyne	....	production finance: UK Film Council
Willy Rasenberg	....	representative: Kasander
Janet Rogers	....	horse coordinator
Livy Sandler	....	legal and business affairs: BBC Films
Paul Sharples	....	chaperone
Maxine Stanley	....	post-production accountant
Tanya Steel	....	animal coordinator: dogs
John Taylor	....	laboratory project manager
Natascha Teunissen	....	representative: Kasander
Julia Ton	....	representative: Kasander
Matthew Vizard	....	production and delivery coordinator: BBC Films
James Watson	....	director of legal affairs: Soho Film Lab
Erica Watt	....	representative: Limelight
Richard White	....	unit nurse
Jannika Öberg	....	production assistant
Neil Calder	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances Inc. (uncredited)
Andrew R. Gardiner	....	key assistant location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Kate Bloxham	....	thanks
Carrie Comerford	....	thanks
Steve Mercer	....	thanks
Michael Nollet	....	thanks
Karenjit Sahota	....	thanks
Faye Ward	....	thanks

Production Companies

• BBC Films (presents)
• UK Film Council (presents)
• Limelight Communication (as Limelight) (in association with) (presents)
• ContentFilm
• Kasander Film Company

Distributors

• Artificial Eye (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2009) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nettai Museum (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Nutopia Entertainment (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• SP Films (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Syrena Films (2010) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Alta Films (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Artificial Eye (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• Canana Films (2010) (Mexico) (all media)
• Cinefil Imagica (2010) (Japan) (TV)
• Cinéart (2009) (Belgium) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Europa Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• First Distributors (2010) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• IFC Films (2010) (USA) (all media)
• Independent Film Channel (IFC) (2010) (Canada) (all media)
• Kam & Ronson Enterprise Co (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MK2 Diffusion (2009) (France) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• One Movie (2010) (Italy) (all media)
• SP Films (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Twin Pics (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• good movies! (2011) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Rushes (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Premier PR  publicity (Cannes and UK)
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance services (as AON/Albert G Ruben)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  electrical equipment (as ARRI Lighting)
• Ascent 142 Features  digital intermediate provided by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• BBC Films  funding
• Compuhire  graphics
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• De Lane Lea  edit suite
• Fatts  post-production script services
• Fayre Events  catering
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Fuji Photo Film  motion picture film supplied by
• J & E Post Production  post-production consultancy
• Lee & Thompson  legal advisors: ContentFilm International
• Lee & Thompson  legal services
• Limelight Communication  funding
• Mayflower Studios  adr recorded at
• Panavision UK  camera equipment
• Red Chutney  extras casting
• Richmond Film Services  additional sound equipment
• Rona Brown's Movie Animals  animals supplied by (as Movie Animals)
• Salon  edit equipment hire
• Titan Grips  additional grip equipment
• UK Film Council  funding

Also Known As:

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

UK | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-15 | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:III | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Australia:MA | Italy:VM14 | South Korea:18 | France:U | Singapore:M18 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Barking, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

The film was shot chronologically, and the actors were shown only the part of the script they would be filming the following week - none of them knew what would happen to their characters later in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mia takes the alcohol bottle from the woman at one of the parties, it is almost empty. Later, Mia is seen drinking from the bottle in her mother's bedroom and the bottle is half full.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Mia calls Keeley using a cellphone]
Keeley:[from an answering machine] Hey, it's Keeley. Leave me a message.
Mia:Keeley, it's me. What's going on? I've left like three messages. I said sorry, didn't I? You know what I'm like. I was pissed off. Ring me back, you bitch.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Book of Eli/The Spy Next Door/Fish Tank (#2.3)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Jah Rule

Staggering picture

Friendless and unloved Mia (Jarvis) dreams of becoming a dancer and when her mum's new boyfriend arrives on the scene, everything changes for the teenager.

Fish tank is an exceptional artistic creation, based on the purity of Andrea Arnold's script and appreciative direction whilst a debuting Katie Jarvis excels as the troubled isolated teenager, and what a feature this is.

British cinema is some of the most dramatic and flinching cinema in the world. From Trainspotting to This is England there are always issues of realism and points to convey and with this 2009 appraised release we see more hard drama.

The opening sequence follows Mia around the streets, slurring and shouting abuse at anyone in her radar and the coarse dialogue and minimal amount of sympathy is staggering. As if you had been slapped, this will instantly startle you into realizing the type of environment and lifestyle Mia is living in. The language will give Pulp Fiction a run for its money.

Added as an attempt to justify the rural scene of Britain, Arnold gets it spot on as everything flows with little adjustment required. Everything is as it should be because everything has been so carefully planned, in particular the character development which will have many shedding a tear or two.

Katie Jarvis' cold and unappreciative style is spot on for the protagonist and as the film goes through hard fights with families and spending time isolated in a deserted flat, we see the emotional desire of Mia. The ambition of becoming a dancer is exceptionally well produced, owing to the fact that the background is effectively established. The hard family life Mia is living inspires her to find a way out and her dancing is her motive to break free. This really does work up a treat with twists turns, ups and downs and a staggering climax that adds extra spice to the picture.

At only 15 the central character certainly has a controversial agenda set for her. From sleeping with random strangers to drinking anything dangerous, Mia seems unfazed. Seeing her younger sister drinking beer with her mother in the next room will have mouths dropping.

Thanks to this straight forward no messing attitude the plot can move forward and tell the audience of what real life entails and the cultural state we are living in at the moment.

Some British films go out of their way to preach, such as This is England and Brassed off and whilst that isn't a bad quality, the enriching style of this film makes it flow and add extra drama continuously.

The scene setting shots are exquisite, as if made from a Skins episode without the teen angst. The scene in the car is excellent and not to forget this film boasts an exceptional soundtrack that fits the mood as well as 2007's Hallam Foe.