Fishtank

There’s a unique poetry to Wendi Tang’s near-perfect new drama Fishtank which is slightly difficult to define. It’s a film as hypnotic as it is absurd; sincere as it is painful, and deeply introspective from beginning to end. Centred around the character of Jules (played excellently by Tiffany Chu), this 17-minute short is a strikingly perceptive examination of a woman’s life following alcohol addiction, and the bizarre, metaphorically imbued occurrence that’s taken over her life since being sober. What might that occurrence be, you ask? Well, poor Jules has been vomiting up goldfish for some time now and thought best to take care of her new-found friends by keeping them in the titular fishtank, of course. It’s an unusual conceit for sure; one bound to put some viewers off – particularly those who aren’t willing to follow a plot whose logic is bound by that of the mind as opposed to the real world. But for those who are willing to submit themselves to the journey will discover that the movie’s dealings in the absurdist provide an affecting, poignant mode of discussion.

Allow us to get the obvious out the way. In terms of audio and visuals, this piece is exemplary. A lot of my love for Fishtank starts with its gorgeous look - the cinematography really never puts a foot wrong. It has a wonderfully soft, vibrant, grainy, film feel about it; operating subtly, but veering into the expressionistic when called for. This must be one of the most beautiful looking shorts I've seen in a long time, and for that it deserves a great deal of recognition. The film's technical and stylistic sensibilities - extending, of course, to the superb sound design - are astoundingly refined and well-considered throughout.

And yet, having praised all this, it is the picture's exploration of its theme as well as the audacious, surreal nature of the narrative which keeps us glued to the screen. This is not a conventional film, and it doesn't care to be; but through that artistic bravery comes some truthful messaging. There are many evocative little details and ideas which elevate the concept from being gimmicky to profound. For instance, you may find that in some ways it's about the experience of having someone else try to fix a person’s trauma for them; the damage that can be caused by playing the hero and disrupting the healing process. Then again, you could also view it as a story about the numb response to big events following the period of substance abuse -- as the protagonist at one point states, "Not everything happens for a reason".

Towards the end, a dramatic tonal shift occurs which I can imagine may not go over so well with some audiences; however, when viewing it through the lens of a recovering alcoholic's emotional world and psychological responses, one may find that the movie's sudden darkness rings true. And the important thing is that you have no choice but to admire these big swings, for it certainly feels like a completely original and uncompromised vision. I hope the team who produced the short continue to collaborate together, perhaps even in a range of genres since the craft and ability is so clearly there. Keep an eye out for Fishtank because it’s a rare gem and one of the most powerful short-form works I’ve seen in some time.