Synopsis
Mia is a rebellious teenager on the verge of being kicked out of school. Her hard-partying mother, Joanne, neglects Mia's welfare in favor of her own, and her younger sister hangs out with a much older crowd. Sparks fly between Mia and Connor, Joanne's new boyfriend, and he encourages Mia to pursue her interest in dance. As the boundaries of the relationships become blurred, Mia and Joanne compete for Connor's affection.
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Cast
- Katie JarvisMia Williams
- Michael FassbenderConnor O'Reily
- Kierston WareingJoanne Williams
- Rebecca GriffithsTyler Williams
- Harry TreadawayBilly
- Jason MazaBilly's Brother
- Jack GordonBilly's Brother
- Joanna HortonKelly
- Sarah BayesKeeley
- Grant WildKeeleys Dad
Recommendations
- 91
Entertainment Weekly
The amazingly natural first-timer was discovered, in a gift of publicity-ready truth, while having an argument with her boyfriend at a train station. - 90
New York Magazine (Vulture)
Arnold's first feature, "Red Road" (2006), centers on another outsider, a woman who monitors security cameras. The film is formally brilliant, but it doesn't have the breathtaking openness of Fish Tank. - 90
Salon
Absolute dynamite. - 90
Variety
What makes the picture feel special is its unflinching honesty and lack of sentimentality or moralizing, along with assured direction and excellent performances. - 80
Empire
A vivid portrayal of life at society's margins with a compelling turn from newcomer Jarvis. Little wonder it scored at Cannes. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
The film belongs to Jarvis, however, and she makes the most of it with expressive features that convey Mia's mixed-up emotions from raging temper to sweet vulnerability. She will go far. - 80
The New Yorker
Fish tank may begin as a patch of lower-class chaos, but it turns into a commanding, emotionally satisfying movie, comparable to such youth-in-trouble classics as "The 400 Blows." [18 Jan. 2010, p. 83] - 67
The A.V. Club
In that way, Jarvis is a lot like Arnold: an artist who knows the steps, but doesn't yet have all the moves.
