Henry Saw: Fish Tank

It's kind of the "real" version of An Education...and similarly fantastic...


If not better.

Fish Tank is a film about the poorer side of England. I know...it's hard to believe it exists outside of Dickens' novels...but its real. I'm not talking about Guy Richie's Pikies but actual, honest to God, poor English folk.



As my friend Chae put it...this movie is about English trailer trash. Which is not to demean the film, or its characters, but to give you a sense of the film's world. Fish Tank follows a 15 year old girl named Mia who falls for her young mother's 30-something year old boyfriend Connor.

Mia is played by Katie Jarvis and Connor is played by Michael Fassbender. They both knock it out of the park. Fassbender (who you might know from 300, Inglourious Basterds, or Hunger) is especially good in a very hard role. Jarvis is strong, always believable, and she sells the last ten minutes of the film especially well.



I don't want to go too deep into the plot...Fish Tank really plays with you in some fascinating ways...so I think I'll wait until the film has been out on DVD for a few weeks and I know you've gotten a chance to see it. Without spoiling anything: Fish Tank will leave you upset, and disappointed, but there is something poignant and hopeful about how the movie ends. It's not a flawless film...there are a few overly arty moments, Mia's mom is never fully developed, and the last moment between Mia and Connor felt like it was from a different kind of movie. Still, I was very impressed and moved by Fish Tank. Highly recommended...

Grade: A-

Best Scene: The last scene between Mia and her mother towards the end...