Overview
- Independent Film – CULTURALLY and INSTITUTIONALLY
- Writer / Director – Andrea Arnold (b.1961, Dartford)
- Part funded / Executive Production by BBC Films
- Produced by Kasander Films (Arnold’s Production Company)
- Additional funding: UK Film Council (Prints and Advertising Fund - £70,000, New Cinema Fund - £644,000 and Development Fund - £20,000)
- Nominated for the Palm D’Or at Cannes 2009
- Winner of Jury Prize at Cannes
- 2010 BAFTA – Best British Film
- Distributed by Artificial Eye (Independent)
- Production Budget - £1.8m
- Distribution Budget (limited)
- 40 Screen release (limited distribution)
- Arnold previously directed Red Road (2006), also winner of the Cannes Jury Prize
Genre
Social Realism (following original genre template) but challenging the template with female authorship and pluralistic, strong female protagonists
Narrative
A 15 year old girl from a dysfunctional family falls for her Mother’s boyfriend, with consequences
Central Protagonists
Mia played by newcomer Katie Jarvis, Connor - Michael Fassbender (only well known actor)
Fish Tank is a critically successful, independent Social Realist film that follows clear genre conventions, but as with many Mike Leigh films e.g. Vera Drake, Happy Go Lucky develops the genre template to offer strong, pluralistic representations.
Traditionally original 1950s...
