Fish Tank

Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold is a coming of age movie set in one of many anonymous projects in England, and is not unlike a white, British version of last year's Precious (with a much thinner protagonist). Which reminds me- Mo'Nique sure as hell better win an Oscar for her bitch mama from hell role. But I digress...

Fifteen year old Mia wants desperately out of that fish tank project, and with no hope in sight she dreams of making it out with her dancing skills, only problem- she has none. The film is wonderfully unsentimental, and allows the viewer insight into how such an emotionally and intellectually stifling environment can eviscerate the humanity out of anyone with hope. Mia can go either way in life at this point, like so many other countless kids in her situation world over. And as is usually the case, the prognosis is not good...