This year’s HollyShorts Film Festival has been an exceptional celebration of indie filmmakers and their unique projects. A novel takeaway from this year’s edition is how creatives have lovingly utilized fish as part of their storytelling. With Fishtank, writer/director Wendi Tang tackles recovery after addiction with a gorgeous visual palette and sensitivity to match.
Jules (Tiffany Chu) is unceremoniously celebrating 13 months of sobriety. The harsh withdrawals have taken a rather unusual toll on her body, as she’s begun vomiting up goldfish at random times during her recovery. Jules chooses to keep them, scooping the fish into a little flask she keeps on hand and later releasing them into her tanks back home. Her collection steadily grows until she meets marine biologist Matt (Isaac Jay) at her group meeting for recovering addicts. The two form an instant connection that leads them to pursue a relationship, and for the first time in a long while, Jules seems to be content. Goldfish stop appearing, and Matt goes above and beyond to help her out. And yet, things aren’t always as they seem, and before long, more fish get regurgitated, sending the young woman into a spiral.
Grotesque as its premise may sound, Fishtank uses it to have multiple frank discussions about various self-destructive behaviors. Jules’ health remains precarious as this delicate healing process exposes her vulnerabilities. The question of whether she’s truly moved on or not persists, and it is the crux that drives the plot, with Jules’ facade gradually peeling away. Chu is compulsively watchable, shining in a role that allows her to tap into her character’s sensitive yet dangerous state of mind. Jay’s Matt displays himself as a warm presence, but his dashing looks and soothing voice serve to add to the mystery of who he really is. Jay’s performance revels in this gray area, enigmatically supporting Jules in whatever way he can. Whether Jules is potentially relapsing or Matt is actively concealing something from her, Tang’s screenplay doesn’t spoonfeed the audience any information, and it’s up to the viewer to dissect all the tiny details.
Fishtank, in addition to its eccentric concept, provides a sumptuous audiovisual experience. Jay Swuen’s work behind the camera is something to behold, with a rich and beautifully saturated look that makes each sequence memorable. Jules’ apartment, filled to the brim with fishtanks, proves a striking image, and Swuen and the production team constantly find new and inventive ways to change the viewer’s perception of that space. Caroline Ho’s captivating, synth-induced score also deserves recognition for accentuating some of the film’s most intense moments.
Fishtank is an artful reflection on addiction and the power within all of us to overcome it.
