Fish Tank

Director: Andrea Arnold

Writer: Andrea Arnold

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katie Jarvis, Harry Treadaway, Jason Maza, Charlotte Collins

Country: UK

Theatrical Release Date: January 15, 2010

Synopsis: 15 year-old Mia’s world is turned upside down when her mother brings home a new boyfriend.

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The discovery of Cannes (so far)?  Katie Jarvis.

Round-Up: A social drama at once bucolic and grimy," The Guardian's Sukhdev Sandhu writes, "'Fish Tank' draws a magnificent performance from newcomer Katie Jarvis, who plays Mia, a fierce-tempered, beer-guzzling teenager." indieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez noted that Jarvis just might be the discovery of the festival in his report from "Tank"'s screening. "Starring as Mia in every scene in 'Fish Tank,' Katie Jarvis is the first major acting discovery of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival," Hernandez said. "It’s just a shame she isn’t in the South of France for her moment in the spotlight. The 17 year old gave birth to a baby one week ago, so she declined to attend." Jarvis was also singled out by Screen Daily's Allan Hunter, who writes that she finds "the vulnerability of the teenager without recourse to sentimentality or surrendering any of her anger or sarcasm." Hunter goes on to also note that the film confirms director Arnold's "status as a torchbearer for the social realist traditions of Ken Loach and the Dardenne brothers." Variety's Leslie Felperin calls Jarvis "mesmerizing" and says of the film: "What makes ['Fish Tank'] feel special is its unflinching honesty and lack of sentimentality or moralizing, along with assured direction and excellent perfs."