Fish Tank (2160x1023)
Fish Tank (2009) © Cinatura, Kasander Film Company & Ruby Films

ACMI presents

Fish Tank

Andrea Arnold | UK, Netherlands | 2009 | MA15+
Film

Tickets

Full

$20

ACMI Member

$16

Concession

$14

When

Mon 10 Mar - Sat 22 Mar 2025

See below for additional related events

A volatile teenager’s life takes a turn for the better when her mother brings home a charismatic new boyfriend played by Michael Fassbender.

Mia is in an isolated stasis. She is recently friendless – a brutal fight with her best friend during dance practice makes sure of that – and she is momentarily in-between schools.

Although Mia won’t admit it, things begin to look up when her mother brings home a handsome new boyfriend named Connor, and he becomes Mia’s last vestige of strained social interaction.

Curator’s Note

We need to talk about Katie Jarvis.

Reported to have been discovered at an Essex train station having an argument with her boyfriend, Katie Jarvis was a non-professional actor when she was cast in the lead role. Her performance, along with Andrea Arnold’s astounding direction in her second feature, achieves the almost impossible feat of turning an unrelentingly abrasive character into the beating heart of the film. Every aggression has profound depth, and every volatile outburst belies a silent vulnerability.

Alongside Jarvis is a young, pre-Inglourious Basterds Michael Fassbender, whose presence lures the camera wherever he goes. The female gaze is strong with this one; Fassbender’s character inspired online memes that will have preceded the film for some viewers.

Fish Tank received the Jury Prize at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)

Plenty of films have presented us with the Angry Young Man but not so many with the Angry Young Woman.

Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl

Language: English
Courtesy: Roadshow Films
Runtime: 123 mins

Event duration

123 mins

Rating

MA15+

Strong themes, sex scenes and coarse language

Where

ACMI Cinemas, Level 2
ACMI, Fed Square

Plan your visit

Focus on Andrea Arnold (Fri 14 Feb – Sun 23 Mar 2025)

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