Little Fish movie review

MOVIE TITLE: LITTLE FISH

Available on February 5, 2021 in select theaters and Video On Demand

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 41 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

This is a touching pandemic love story that was brilliantly written by Mattson Tomlin (THE BATMAN and PROJECT POWER) and directed by award-winning filmmaker Chad Hartigan. The pandemic presented in the movie is not Covid-19. In fact, this film was written long before our current pandemic hit, introducing a virus that does something equally, if not more, devastating: it’s a neuro-inflammatory disorder that erases your memories until you don’t even recognize your loved ones.

This movie hit me hard because my mother has Alzheimer’s, a real-life brain disorder that does the same thing. Just three weeks ago, my sisters and I had to make the heartbreaking decision to move her into a Memory Care facility so that she can get the physical and mental support she desperately needs. There are hereditary factors that suggest that I have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s when I grow older, which is something I’m extremely concerned about, especially as I watch what this disease has done to my once-vibrant mother and her lost memories.

This is a hard film to watch because of the depressing subject matter. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful film that I highly recommend. It’s an inventive romance grounded in relatable emotions and based on the short story by Aja Gabel.

THINGS I LIKED:

First, I love the title of the movie because it has several meanings. This movie is not to be mistaken with Cate Blanchette’s film also called Little Fish The two main characters in this movie get matching fish tattoos because they got engaged while standing next to some fish tanks in a pet store. When Jude (played by Jack O’Connell) tells Emma (played by Olivia Cooke) that he doesn’t have a ring to give her, she tells him to buy her a fish instead. Later, he does give her a wedding ring, but the fish idea was cute and meaningful to them. Even the movie poster evokes images of fish with the swirling movement and colors. Another conversation the couple had is how wonderful it would be to be a fish, without worries to think about. Little did they know that the imminent pandemic would threaten to strip their very memories away and offer only a fish’s existence.
I really enjoyed the performances by the two leads, Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Bates Motel: The Complete Series) and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken, Skins). I thought they were both excellent and felt like real people experiencing the events in the story, rather than actors playing roles. Their chemistry felt real too, making this film very character-driven. In a recent interview, the director stated, “It’s a romance, first and foremost, so it lives or dies on the chemistry of the leads. That’s not something you can manufacture. It just has to be there. Luckily, it was.” They are most definitely the heartbeat of this film.
I think it’s cool that the director and cinematographer went to film school together! They chose to rely on creative camera techniques during filming, rather than wait for post-production to create the ideas they wanted. For example, they created fascinating camera angles by smearing vaseline on the lens to blur the frame or shot through prisms of light in order to carefully hide details of when the memories and scenes were to take place. I love clever, thought-provoking, and intentional camera work. Kudos to the team for creating dreamlike sequences that give us the illusion of memories!
You don’t see the title card until 12 minutes into the film. I love it when movies dive right into the meat.
Nice soundtrack by composer Keegan Dewitt (Hearts Beat Loud). I love that this film reunites him with his childhood friends, Hartigan (the director) and cinematographer Sean McElwee (THE INCREDIBLE JESSICA JAMES).
Memories are often created through photography and music, so both of those elements are included in the story. The leading man is a former musician who now works as a photographer. Another character, Sam, played by Soko is an international musician and actress in real life. You get to hear some music that is the perfect complement to the love story.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie is all in English, but sometimes the British accent is hard to understand, so it’s super helpful to watch it with captions turned on.
The nonlinear timeline may feel confusing for many viewers, but just know that’s actually intentional. It’s designed to make you wonder and feel a little lost, just like this Neuroinflammatory Affliction (NIA) featured in the story does to people.
It was sad to watch how the crowds of people fought with each other and went out of control in order to get access to a potential cure. It’s understandable but also made me reflect on how poorly some people have behaved and treated each other during our own current Covid pandemic.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
Some profanity and F-bombs
You see a man in his underwear
Talk of drug use

THEMES:

Memories. I was fascinated by how the movie explored the importance of our memories in determining our relationships and even our own identity. If you strip away our memories, what’s left? Are we still the same person we always thought we were? This is the central question of LITTLE FISH.
Losses
Life and day-to-day living while the world crumbles around you.
What lengths would you go in order to save someone you love?

INTERESTING LINES:

“When your disaster is everyone’s disaster, how do you grieve?” – Emma
“Life goes forward, not backward.”

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

The Father (You can see my movie review of The Father here.)

By the way, if you’d like a FREE 7-day trial of Amazon Prime, just click on this link to see if Amazon videos are right for you. With Amazon Prime, you also get free shipping with your membership! Yay free!