Andrea Arnold
General Background:
- Social Realist Film - sense of verisimilitude
- Shot in 4x3 ( standard TV size at the time - reflects the media influences explored)
- Lack of non-diegetic sound
- Handheld Camera
- Linear Narrative
- Independent Film
- Uses Unknown Actors (create realism and relatability)
- 'Typically British' - values substance over style
- Uses close-ups to make the spectator claustrophobic and uncomfortable (impressionability of young women)
Key Themes and Iconography:
- Hypersexuality and Sexuality
- Media and Adult Influence
- Father Figures
- Fish in Fish Catching Scene - freedom
- Horse - freedom
- Acting older than your Age
- Border/Boundaries
- Underclass
- Male & Female Gaze
- Masculinity and femininity
- Escapism
Social Realism:
- Realistic Settings
- Realistic events and situations
- Believable filming technique
- Hard Luck
- Working class heroes
- Economic hardship
- Life's struggles
- Experience of REAL Britons
- Gritty style
- Urban Locations
Uses 'Kitchen Sink' social realism. Coined in the 1950's/60's whereby the protagonist was often a violent or volatile male character. Often depicts the living situations of young Britons living in rented accommodation and uses this setting to explore political or social issues of the time. It is arguable that 'Fish Tank' falls firmly into this character.
Opening Sequence
Opening shot of a high-angle shot looking down on Mia. Shows the view on the underclass. Very little editing with lots of long takes. The mise-en-scene and costuming of Mia also link to this underclass presentation. Establishing shot of block of council flats using phone-call as excuse for pan. Mia is essentially trapped inside one of these building first foreshadowing her entrapment in her social class. Handheld camera follows Mia as she heads presumably towards her friends house. This links to the social realist genre. Walks very fast but isn't really going anyway. Sister sunbathing like a celebrity showing a desire for escape. Abrasive character introduced as Mia has an argument with friends parent. Dance scene follows which introduced the concept of the male gaze. Typical male stereotypes (no shirts and tattoos) watching the girls dance with their pit-bulls. One wears a grand-theft auto t-shirt showing the influence of media. Masculinity begins to be explored.
Male gaze comes in with the girl wearing revealing clothing. Sexualising themselves in the presence of the boys. Main girl basically wears a bikini. Influence of music videos. Abrasive nature again explored as Mia headbutts someone and the girls shout at each other. Plays into class representation where the first interaction they have is "what the f*** are you looking at?". Femininity also explored because violence is not stereotypically feminine.
Underclass presentation also comes in when Mia is overawed with a horse. She may have never seen one before in real life. Tries to set it free is representative of her own struggle to escape her reality. Shows a softer side to Mia. Hints to the abrasive side being a front and she may actually have a kind heart. Music when returning to flat as well as them having their own dog. Mother also abrasive and abusive. No real respect or love. Clearly has had Mia very young so may be bitter that she lost her own youth to her. Definitely more loving towards the younger daughter. Physical and verbal abuse as bad as each other. Runs away from mum to her room which represents her running from her problems. Mother is sexualised but Mia rejects this image. No pillow case on the pillow but they have two TVs showing how the media influences them. Gets someone to buy her a drink which links to underclass alcoholism and drinking to escape. Clearly underage as here sister is also seen drinking cider later on. POV shot of Mia looking down on her mum as she gets into a car with a guy and driving off. Then moves onto dancing which is another version of her escape.
Party Scene:
Mia looking down in Connor as he walks into the estate. Tyler and her friends watching a programme where upper class teenagers are getting ready for a party. They have make-up on and are drinking and smoking showing the influence of this kind of media. Many images of cats throughout the room linking to Mia's behaviour later/ Once Connor enters the house Mia heads downstairs. Mother here is clearly trying to relive her youth. Flirtation between Connor and Mia and Connor and the Mother. Very close-up two shot between Connor and Mother to show this chemistry and sexual interaction. Mother sees Mia as a burden as she sends her to her room so she doesn't ruin the atmosphere of the party. Shot of man reaching up a woman's skirt also shows the hypersexual elements. Mia being exposed to all of these hypersexual elements.
Mother's room is pink. She has a lot more 'things' in her room than Mia or her sister. Mia rummages around her stuff which perhaps links to Mia now wanting to attract Connor's attention by doing what her mother does. Moment where the camera is slowed down when Connor carries her to her room when she's half asleep. Emphasised breathing this technique is repeated later on. Connor undressing her through a POV shot. Very claustrophobic and creepy section as he strips her while she's asleep and then stares. Could escalate further but doesn't. He actually just covers her up and leaves which links to the father figure lacking in Mia's life. Mother complains about Mia being half-naked seeing her as a sexual threat. Mother acting more respectable to try and impress Connor.
Sex Scene:
This scene is constructed to be very uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Every shot is a close-up including an extreme close-up of Connor unfastening his jeans. This creates the claustrophobic environment. The lack of any non-diegetic sound creates an uncomfortable watch as we only have the rustling of clothes and sound of skin on skin. The lighting is extremely low-key which could perhaps be representative of Mia's fall from grace here. The lighting also demonstrates Mia's entrapment by her class. She is unable to see a way out so uses Connor as a from of escapism. It also links to the male-gaze as, as she has just danced for Connor as seen in the earlier scene, she has become a sexualised object now to him. There is clearly no love in the sex and, although Mia doesn't say no, Connor never actually asks for explicit consent. There is no speech which also perhaps links to the pure physicality of their relationship.
The mise-en-scene also makes this scene uncomfortable as Connor has to put down a liquor bottle down to kiss Mia. They are on a run-down sofa in a dirty room which is hardly a romantic setting. Pair this with the obvious age difference and the fact Connor is also sleeping with Mia's mum and the entire scene is uncomfortable and tense. There's clearly very little enjoyment in it for both of them and the conversation after it is awkward with Mia clearly not having much experience.
This shows Connor exploiting the small father-figure image he has built up with Mia and her family. The theme of sexuality is also explored and quite possibly the female gaze as Mia stares at Connor. Also arguably one of Mia's most feminine dances vs Connor taking the classic masculine stance and being on top during the sex.
Party Scene:
Mia looking down in Connor as he walks into the estate. Tyler and her friends watching a programme where upper class teenagers are getting ready for a party. They have make-up on and are drinking and smoking showing the influence of this kind of media. Many images of cats throughout the room linking to Mia's behaviour later/ Once Connor enters the house Mia heads downstairs. Mother here is clearly trying to relive her youth. Flirtation between Connor and Mia and Connor and the Mother. Very close-up two shot between Connor and Mother to show this chemistry and sexual interaction. Mother sees Mia as a burden as she sends her to her room so she doesn't ruin the atmosphere of the party. Shot of man reaching up a woman's skirt also shows the hypersexual elements. Mia being exposed to all of these hypersexual elements.
Mother's room is pink. She has a lot more 'things' in her room than Mia or her sister. Mia rummages around her stuff which perhaps links to Mia now wanting to attract Connor's attention by doing what her mother does. Moment where the camera is slowed down when Connor carries her to her room when she's half asleep. Emphasised breathing this technique is repeated later on. Connor undressing her through a POV shot. Very claustrophobic and creepy section as he strips her while she's asleep and then stares. Could escalate further but doesn't. He actually just covers her up and leaves which links to the father figure lacking in Mia's life. Mother complains about Mia being half-naked seeing her as a sexual threat. Mother acting more respectable to try and impress Connor.
Sex Scene:
This scene is constructed to be very uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Every shot is a close-up including an extreme close-up of Connor unfastening his jeans. This creates the claustrophobic environment. The lack of any non-diegetic sound creates an uncomfortable watch as we only have the rustling of clothes and sound of skin on skin. The lighting is extremely low-key which could perhaps be representative of Mia's fall from grace here. The lighting also demonstrates Mia's entrapment by her class. She is unable to see a way out so uses Connor as a from of escapism. It also links to the male-gaze as, as she has just danced for Connor as seen in the earlier scene, she has become a sexualised object now to him. There is clearly no love in the sex and, although Mia doesn't say no, Connor never actually asks for explicit consent. There is no speech which also perhaps links to the pure physicality of their relationship.
The mise-en-scene also makes this scene uncomfortable as Connor has to put down a liquor bottle down to kiss Mia. They are on a run-down sofa in a dirty room which is hardly a romantic setting. Pair this with the obvious age difference and the fact Connor is also sleeping with Mia's mum and the entire scene is uncomfortable and tense. There's clearly very little enjoyment in it for both of them and the conversation after it is awkward with Mia clearly not having much experience.
This shows Connor exploiting the small father-figure image he has built up with Mia and her family. The theme of sexuality is also explored and quite possibly the female gaze as Mia stares at Connor. Also arguably one of Mia's most feminine dances vs Connor taking the classic masculine stance and being on top during the sex.
Scenes for Analysis:
Characters often represent a symptom of a problem existing within wider culture or society.
These issues are discussed and negotiated within the narrative of the film and they debate through visual representations the struggle for differing ideologies to be heard.
They suggest the possibilities available within the constructed 'world' that the film depicts.
Representations can be about the class, race, age, sex and functionality of a person (handicap).
Representations include the underclass presentation of Mia the outskirts of her own class group with very few friends of her own age. Mia essentially just copies what she sees on TV which creates more of an ideological aspect to the scenes. The abrasive character of Mia extends from the environment she lives in with a loveless home life where there is no sense of community or family. Need to escape. 'Fish Tank' presents a bleak message with a linear narrative and hence is a marginalised film for a niche audience. Exposes elements of British culture and society that most ignore.
Process of Ideology (Hegemony) dictates that the media feeds into what the audience wants and what the audience wants feeds into the industry hence they end up wanting the same thing. This mean that because Mia sees people dancing on TV she wants to become a dancer. The media reflects the general consensus and the general consensus reflects the media's influence. We see Mia watching her mother dance half naked through a square window which directly reflects a TV screen. This shows the hegemony Mia experiences as she is so influenced by the media and those around her.
Points Covered May Include:
- Character (roles and attitude)
- Appearance (dress codes/ body language)
- Stereotypes (traditional or unconventional)
- Theory as Appropriate
- Key signifiers and Iconography
- Storylines and Plots
- Characters and their functions
- Use of Camera, sound and lighting etc
- Use of dialogue, language and music etc
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