Fish Tank (2009)

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

Director:

Andrea Arnold

Writer:

Andrea Arnold

Stars:

Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing

21 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Katie Jarvis	...	Mia
Michael Fassbender	...	Conor
Rebecca Griffiths	...	Tyler
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
Harry Treadaway	...	Billy
Syrus	...	Tennents the Dog
Kierston Wareing	...	Joanne
Alan Francis	...	Free Runner

Storyline

Mia, an aggressive fifteen-year-old girl, lives on an Essex estate with her tarty mother, Joanne, and precocious little sister Tyler. She has been thrown out of school and is awaiting admission to a referrals unit and spends her days aimlessly. She begins an uneasy friendship with Joanne's slick boyfriend, Connor, who encourages her one interest, dancing.

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Plot Keywords:

15 year old | dancing | council estate | older man younger woman relationship | sex with a minor | 

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Taglines:

Live, love and give as good as you get.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

As Mia is leaving the dance audition, she passes a mirrored wall and the cameraman and his equipment is clearly reflected.

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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.

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Connections

Features Ja Rule featuring Ashanti, Vita & Charli Baltimore: Down 4 U (2002)

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Soundtracks

Ride It
Performed by Jay Sean
Written by Jay Sean / Alan Sampson
Published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
Licensed courtesy of Jayded / 2Point9

User Reviews

Another Grim & Gritty Parable From England

If you think England is only good for turning out glossy, romantic films adapted from their classic novels,guess again. England has long become a staple for some grim,gritty,edgy stories of the darker side of the human condition (with an emphasis on the working class---I guess they're channeling the Charles Dickens within them). Recent films such as 'Nil By Mouth',and 'Ratcatcher' have cemented this reputation. Now add Andrea Arnold's equally harrowing tale of existential despair, 'Fish Tank'. The story centers on Mia,a scrappy 15 year old girl,played with gusto by Kate Jarvis. Mia has an attitude problem,a short fuse,and has no problem solving adverse issues with her fists (evidant by an altercation in the film's opening with another girl,where Mia head butts her,giving the other girl a bloody nose),or her mouth (she has no problem cussing out anyone who crosses her path,including her Mother & little sister,who also boast of filthy mouths). Mia's big dream is to become a big time Hip Hop dancer & is always practicing her dance moves. Things take a turn for Mia's worse when her mom brings home a new boyfriend (Michael Fassbinder),who has less than wholesome designs for young Mia. Along the way,Mia attempts to make friends with an older boy who is in the process of restoring an automobile. As with other girl's her age,Mia experiments with the usual attractions:alcohol,drugs,sex,etc. All of this makes for a film that is not always easy to watch,but easy to admire for it's bravura. Andrea Arnold ('Red Road'and several made for British television projects)writes & directs this kitchen sink view of the British working class. Prepare yourself to get kicked in the stomach for 123 minutes. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains pervasive strong language,an outburst of violence,flashes of nudity & sexual situation,including abhorrent adult behaviour involving a minor. Not for the little ones.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

Netherlands UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Fish Tank

Filming Locations:

Mardyke Estate, Rainham, Essex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,854, 17 January 2010

Gross USA:

$374,675

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,404,300

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, UK Film Council, Limelight Communication

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1