Fish Tank

A dysfunctional family provides the gist for a young girl's rather rough coming of age. The theme to Fish Tank could be love means you never have to say I hate you. An earthy entry from the UK, Fish Tank follows a 15-year old girl who's more delinquent than dilettante. The film's very British down to its you-need-to-concentrate accents and it's locales including the coast near Essex.
As written and directed by Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank revolves totally around Mia (amazing newcomer Kathie Jarvis) with all the other, mostly adult, characters seen from her perspective. One moment Mia's arguing with her single mom, the next she's flirting with mom's boyfriend (Michael Fassbender, completely different from his turn in Inglourious Basterds). Mia varies from fighting other tough girls in the neighborhood to wanting to be a dancer. Her musical influences range from "Life's a Bitch" by Nas to a soulful cover of "California Dreamin" by Bobby Womack. Mia may be sensitive but we rarely see that trait. Instead she tends to run with bad boys or exist as a loner; one disturbing incident even suggests that she may be capable of kidnapping.
Despite an obviously unenlightened existence Mia arouses our curiosity with the turns her life takes. Arnolds direction is bouncy in spite of the dramatic intensity of Mia's choices. Fish Tank's reputation precedes it as it's won BAFTA and Cannes Film Festival plaudits.