Little Fish: Cate Blanchett Superb Again

The Australian Hit of 2005

A few years ago everybody was talking about the Australian filmmaking industry and talent. This film is a good reason why. Little Fish starring Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, and Sam Neill is a great experience in sophisticated and atmospheric movie production. 

Cate Blanchett (Tracy Heart) looks like every other late thirties ex-junkie, having staged the major battle of her life, everything else is missing drama and attachment. She works in a video store and avoids the sins of her past. Her mother, her sponsor, all watch over her and see that she makes it day by day. She swims and takes it slow. 

All the things people use to combat everyday boredom, such as drugs, alcohol, and sex, she can’t have. A family tragedy drove her boyfriend away years ago. Her brother Ray, (Martin Henderson) was in it and has a false leg now. The family heritage is a dark one, the father is never seen or mentioned. 

Tracy's world is ordinary, but the bowl is about to get smaller. her mother is aging, Ray is a user, she has no savings, not even a car. Being clean doesn't pay the bills. Except as her world shrinks we see her relationships and choices are herding her back to a dark place. Some fish get away, and some get caught in the net. 

Hugo Weaving plays her erstwhile stepfather Lionel who's gay and hooked on H. A poster of his former soccer glory hangs on the wall, mocking the gaunt junkie he's become. His almost daily resolutions to quit and dry out have a hollow sound to Tracy Heart( Blanchett), but she can't afford to walk away from the loved ones in her life. 

Tracy and Lionel joke about him hitting up on Tracy's mother Janelle, to bring the "family" together. It's shown that back when the kids were little Lionel was there for them all. He's gay and still involved with his dealer, wealthy and slick Sam Neill. Neill is the "Jockey" a natty figure whose persona masks a duplicitous white collar crime operation.