Fish Tank
Fifteen-year-old Mia is in a constant state of war with her family and the world around her. When she meets her party-girl mother’s charming new boyfriend Connor, she is amazed to find he returns her attention, and believes he might help her start to make sense of her life.
Working with a small-scale budget of $3.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $5.9M in global revenue (+97% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Fish Tank (2009) showcases strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Andrea Arnold's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 3 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mia, 15, dances aggressively alone in an abandoned flat in a British housing estate. She's isolated, angry, trapped in a cycle of poverty and disconnection from her family and community.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Connor, Joanne's new boyfriend, arrives at the flat. He's charming, attentive, and shows interest in Mia—something she's never experienced. He represents a fantasy of escape and validation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Mia actively chooses to pursue Connor's attention. She begins dancing for him, seeking his approval. She crosses the line from passive recipient to active participant in their dangerous dynamic., moving from reaction to action.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Mia and Connor have sex. What seems like a victory (getting the attention she craves) is actually a false peak—she's being exploited. The power dynamic shifts and things will darken from here., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mia discovers Connor has a wife and young daughter. The "whiff of death"—her innocence and fantasy of being special to him dies. She confronts the reality that she was exploited, not loved., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Mia steals Connor's daughter briefly in an act of confused revenge/connection. The experience of being responsible for a vulnerable child shifts her perspective—she sees herself reflected in the girl and chooses to return her safely., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Fish Tank's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Fish Tank against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrea Arnold utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Fish Tank within the drama genre.
Andrea Arnold's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Andrea Arnold films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Fish Tank represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrea Arnold filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Andrea Arnold analyses, see American Honey.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mia, 15, dances aggressively alone in an abandoned flat in a British housing estate. She's isolated, angry, trapped in a cycle of poverty and disconnection from her family and community.
Theme
Mia's mother Joanne says dismissively, "You're a pain in the ass." The film explores whether Mia can escape being defined by her chaotic environment and find self-worth beyond her family's neglect.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Mia's broken world: volatile relationship with younger sister Tyler, neglectful alcoholic mother, dangerous estate life, and her solitary passion for hip-hop dancing as her only outlet.
Disruption
Connor, Joanne's new boyfriend, arrives at the flat. He's charming, attentive, and shows interest in Mia—something she's never experienced. He represents a fantasy of escape and validation.
Resistance
Mia is drawn to Connor despite her resistance. He encourages her dancing, takes her and Tyler fishing, provides attention. Mia debates internally between suspicion and desperate desire for connection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mia actively chooses to pursue Connor's attention. She begins dancing for him, seeking his approval. She crosses the line from passive recipient to active participant in their dangerous dynamic.
Mirror World
Connor watches Mia dance and praises her talent. This relationship becomes the mirror showing what Mia believes she needs: male validation and escape through being "seen" by a father figure/lover.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Mia experiences what she thinks is love and attention. Connor takes her on adventures, she prepares for an audition, there's sexual tension building, and she feels alive and valued for the first time.
Midpoint
Mia and Connor have sex. What seems like a victory (getting the attention she craves) is actually a false peak—she's being exploited. The power dynamic shifts and things will darken from here.
Opposition
Reality closes in. Connor becomes distant, Mia grows desperate and possessive, the audition goes poorly, family tension escalates. Mia's fantasy of escape through Connor crumbles as his manipulation becomes evident.
Collapse
Mia discovers Connor has a wife and young daughter. The "whiff of death"—her innocence and fantasy of being special to him dies. She confronts the reality that she was exploited, not loved.
Crisis
Mia spirals into her dark night. She seeks Connor out at his real home, confronts the destruction of her illusion, and must process the betrayal, shame, and loss of her escape fantasy.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mia steals Connor's daughter briefly in an act of confused revenge/connection. The experience of being responsible for a vulnerable child shifts her perspective—she sees herself reflected in the girl and chooses to return her safely.
Synthesis
Mia makes active choices to leave her old life. She packs, says goodbye to her mother and sister without anger, and decides to move to Cardiff with Billy (a boy who showed genuine interest). She acts from self-determination, not desperation.
Transformation
Mia dances alone in the car, free and unseen. Unlike the opening where she danced in angry isolation, she now dances with quiet self-possession. She's leaving on her own terms, not seeking validation but finding it within.