FISH TANK (UK 2009) ****
Directed by Andrea Arnold

Writer/director Andrea Arnold’s latest film could have a lot to do with her Oscar winning short WASP.  Her protagonist could most likely be the daughter of the single mum left outside the pub in WASP while mummy was trying to pick up at the bar.

FISH TANK begins also like WASP with the female protagonist making a visit to a local flat giving the occupant (what we take to be her father in this one) a piece of her mind.  It turns out that Arnold’s heroine in this case is angst ridden 15-year old Mia (Katie Jarvis), a troublemaker with no friends or love shown towards her.  Arnold begins the first portion of the film describing Mia’s character and the people around her.  Then, her world takes a turn when she starts hanging out with her mother’s (Kierston Jarvis)’s new beau, Connor (Michael Fassbender).  She also meets a boy her own age and slowly learns life’s lessons, a chapter at a time.  The film is open-ended though one might argue towards an optimistic ending.

All the incidents are loosely tied by Mia’s love to rap.  Whether she is good at it is questionable (a few of her moves are laughable), but she is, the audience assumes a little talented.  But whether she succeeds in this outlet is immaterial to Arnold’s story.  Arnold’s film is above that.  Arnold uses this distraction as a device to tie her story bits together.

Arnold shows the England no one likes to see.  The film was shot on a housing estate in Essex, England, a community defined by steaming factories and empty car lots.  Child swearing, kids (like Mia’s younger’s sister’s friend) smoking, strip clubs and life in the projects are not pleasant observations on screen.  But they are gripping.  Arnold never explains reasons for incidents or behaviour but allows the audience to figure out for themselves.  Mia’s rebellion could be attributed to her mother’s likewise behaviour or the absence of a father figure.

Arnold gets the most from her actors including many shots of Michael Fassbinder’s (INGLOURIOU BASTERDS and HUNGER) butt crack.  Katie Jarvis is a real find but Kierston Jarvis steals the show as her hard-partying mum.

Also memorable in the film are some stunning shots from Arnold – the most impressive being the camera moving at one point to rest with a side shot of both Connor’s and Mia’s side profiles.  Other shots such as Connors’ kid falling and almost drowning in the water or Mia’s mum dancing in Connor’s arms at a house party are simple yet unforgettable.

In terms of gritty British realism, FISH TANK hits the spot as Arnold’s best movie.  But she has treaded familiar waters in WASP.  FISH TANK has a simple storyline that allows her the freedom to show ‘everything about Mia’ and not to be bogged with subplots or anything else.  But the cop-out happy ending seems out of place with the rest of her story.

Her previous film, the sexy thriller RED ROAD is extraordinary.  And her latest WUTHERING HEIGHTS would be a much anticipated work.