Given the current recommendation to stay home and practice social distancing, we at the Chicago International Film Festival are looking at past selections from each year of the Festival that you can stream now from home. Stream our past selections as we look forward to the 56th Chicago International Film Festival this October 14-25, 2020. Find the full 56 Films for 56 Years selections here.

Today’s #56Films entry is Andrea Arnold’s breakout British coming-of-age story that won the Silver Hugo Jury Award along with Best Supporting Actor for Michael Fassbender at the 45th Chicago International Film Festival in 2009.

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Fish Tank

Director: Andrea Arnold
45th Chicago International Film Festival

The 2009 indie hit Fish Tank, directed by the visionary Andrea Arnold, takes us through the life of a 15-year-old girl named Mia (Katie Jarvis). Challenged by her world and always looking out of her “fish bowl”, she is full of anger, and shows it through her aggressive behavior and volatile words. The one thing that keeps her centered is her dream of becoming a hip hop dancer. It isn’t until she meets her mother’s boyfriend Connor (Michael Fassbender) that she starts to let herself become vulnerable and her tough exterior begins to break. As their relationship sparks an attraction, it becomes complicated as it crosses some delicate lines. This is a unique coming of age film that accentuates the beauty of British skies and green landscape along with the grit of lower-class strife. The film would go on to win the 2009 Cannes Jury Prize among other accolades. — Rebecca Martin, Cinema Femme

Streaming Details:
Fish Tank is streaming now on The Criterion Channel and available for digital rental.