When Andrea Arnold released Fish Tank the film in 2009, it didn't just land on the British cinema scene; it felt like a brick through a window. It was raw. It was loud. It was deeply uncomfortable. Even now, over fifteen years after Mia first danced her way through an Essex council estate, people are still trying to figure out why this movie sticks in the ribs like a dull ache.
The story is simple on paper. Mia, a 15-year-old played by the then-unknown Katie Jarvis, is a social outcast living with her volatile mother and younger sister. She hates her life. She hates the local girls. She mostly just wants to dance. Then her mom brings home a new boyfriend named Connor, played by Michael Fassbender, and everything gets messy. Like, really messy.
Honestly, it’s the kind of movie that makes you want to wash your face afterward. Not because it’s gross, but because it’s so staggeringly intimate that you feel like a voyeur. Arnold used a 4:3 aspect ratio, which basically boxes the characters in, making the screen feel as cramped as the high-rise flats Mia wanders through. It's claustrophobic. It’s intentional. It’s brilliant.
What Most People Get Wrong About Mia’s Journey
There is this common misconception that Fish Tank the film is just another "poverty porn" flick from the UK. You know the type—gray skies, concrete, people shouting over warm beer. But that's a lazy take. Arnold wasn't interested in making a documentary about the working class. She was making a film about the feral energy of adolescence.
Mia isn't a "good" kid trapped in a bad situation. She’s aggressive. She’s often mean. She headbutts a girl within the first twenty minutes. Yet, you can't look away from her. The genius of the casting lies in the fact that Katie Jarvis was literally found on a train platform by a casting agent while she was arguing with her boyfriend. She wasn't an actor. She was just... Mia. That authenticity is why the film works where others fail. If you cast a polished child star in this role, the whole thing would have collapsed under the weight of its own artifice.
The Fassbender Factor
Then there's Michael Fassbender. This was right before he became a massive global star. In Fish Tank the film, he plays Connor with this terrifyingly charming "cool uncle" energy. He’s the only person who actually looks at Mia. He listens to her. He encourages her dancing.
He’s also a predator.
The way the film handles their relationship is deeply sophisticated because it doesn't start with a "bad guy" vibe. It starts with a sense of hope. You want Mia to have a father figure. You want her to have someone who isn't screaming at her. When that trust is betrayed, it doesn't just feel like a plot point; it feels like a physical blow to the audience.
The Visual Language of Essex
British cinema has a long history of Social Realism, stretching back to Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. But Arnold does something different. She finds beauty in the decay. Think about the scene with the white horse. Mia tries to free an old, dying horse tied up in a junkyard. It’s a bit on the nose as a metaphor for her own life, sure, but the way it’s shot—the sunlight hitting the weeds, the dirt on Mia’s hands—it’s lyrical.
The sound design is just as important as the visuals. You don't get a sweeping orchestral score here. You get the tinny sound of "California Dreamin'" playing through a cheap speaker. You get the wind whipping through the marshes. It’s a sensory experience that grounds the film in a specific time and place.
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- The use of non-professional actors (Jarvis).
- The 1.33:1 aspect ratio that mimics a literal fish tank.
- The lack of a traditional "happy ending" in favor of something more ambiguous.
The Ending That Still Divides Fans
We have to talk about that ending. After the chaos, after the heartbreak, Mia and her sister Tyler dance in their living room to "L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole. It’s a rare moment of peace. Then Mia leaves. She just gets in a car and drives away with a boy she barely knows.
Is it a happy ending? Probably not. She’s likely headed for more of the same. But for that one moment, she escaped the "tank." That’s the most Andrea Arnold can give us—a brief moment of oxygen before the water gets murky again.
Real-World Impact and Legacy
Critics like Roger Ebert gave it four stars, noting that the film is "one of the best of its year." It won the Jury Prize at Cannes. But beyond the awards, its legacy is seen in how it paved the way for films like American Honey or even The Florida Project. It taught filmmakers that you don't need a massive budget or a complex plot if you have a character who feels real enough to touch.
If you’re looking to watch it today, you’ll find it’s aged remarkably well. The fashion (the tracksuits, the oversized hoops) is back in style, and the themes of isolation and the longing for connection are universal. It’s a masterclass in "show, don't tell." We don't need a monologue about Mia’s feelings; we just need to see her standing on a balcony, staring at the horizon.
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How to Appreciate Fish Tank the Film Today
If you’re planning a rewatch or seeing it for the first time, keep these points in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the background: Andrea Arnold often hides details in the periphery of the frame. Pay attention to what’s happening in the corners of the council estate.
- Listen to the music: The tracklist isn't random. Every song Mia dances to or listens to reflects her internal state, especially her obsession with Bobby Womack’s version of "California Dreamin'."
- Research the "found" casting: Understanding that Katie Jarvis had never acted before adds a layer of vulnerability to her performance that is rare in modern cinema.
- Look for the animals: From the horse to the fish in the tank, animal imagery is used throughout to symbolize captivity and the instinct to survive.
To truly understand the impact of this movie, you should compare it to Arnold’s earlier short film Wasp. It covers similar ground but shows the evolution of her style. After watching, look up the Criterion Collection's essays on the film; they provide a much deeper dive into the technical aspects of the cinematography that casual viewers might miss. Don't just watch it for the story—watch it for the atmosphere. It’s a film that demands to be felt rather than just viewed.
Stop looking for a hero or a villain. In this world, there are only people trying to keep their heads above water. That is the ultimate takeaway from this piece of cinema history. It’s uncomfortable because life is uncomfortable. It’s beautiful because, despite everything, Mia keeps dancing. That's the only way out.