A film adapted from a poem written by its lead actor explores the relatable and funny, everyday social anxieties we all face. This is Jacob Melling’s Fish Out Of Water.
If anyone can remember what it was like during the pandemic when you first went back outside and were amongst people, you may have some understanding of what the lead character in Fish Out Of Water is going through.
The echoing drone of a dripping tap welcomes us into the flat and life of our protagonist ‘Fish’ actor Amy Cotter, as she is shaving her legs in a bathtub. Automatically we are reminded of Bridget Jones and Fleabag, with our lead simply trying to get through life unscathed, but as the short progresses through its 8 minutes run time, there is a slight undercurrent of dread across the entire piece.
Cotter as ‘Fish’ is both lovable and human with a put upon, hangdog expression that makes you want to both console her and keep away from her at the same time. It’s a very naturalistic performance where she is fully herself and fully the character she is playing. A sparse story like this doesn’t really work unless we can feel an unconditional affection for the heroine, and in a short space of time, Cotter achieves that. She also manages to convey an underlying self-destructive aspect that only adds to her likeability. The other performer is Alexandra Rose Wilson who plays Fish’s friend and she also manages to create a sweetly annoying character who we can all relate to in the brief few moments she has.
Melling’s direction is showy without being too flashy; the shots of Fish in her house, going through her daily and mundane routine are all coloured in gloomy greys, blues, and greens. The cinematography that focuses on bare walls, unmade beds, and empty spaces, along with this colour scheme, helps to emphasise Fish’s belief that she is stuck in some kind of prison. These scenes are contrasted nicely with shots of the outside world with some nice touches that see Fish imagining that her bath water has become a river, a splash of wine, and the ocean.
All of the images are complimented very nicely by Cotter’s prose, with her poem a throwback to the great Pam Ayers, who was a hugely popular poet in the 70s and 80s. Her choice of words are witty, very individual, and sometimes very funny. She creates a style that has an immediate impact on the audience and establishes her as someone with real warmth.
The use of music also enhances an already interesting film, as Aaron Douglas’ score helps to compliment the slightly darker aspects of “Fish” while also enabling the more quiet moments of self-reflection to shine through.
Fish Out Of Water is a charming short film with a winning central performance that manages to make light of a really uncomfortable situation that we have all been involved in. It’s a film that gives almost unreasonable pleasure celebrating our bumpy transition from life in a pandemic to our real lives outside.
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