Love is unforgettable.|Feb. 05, 2021|United States | Canada|101 Min.|n/A
Genre: Drama;Romance;Science;Fiction
Description: “Little Fish,” released in 2021, is a film that evokes a sense of lingering melancholy, particularly poignant given its debut during the pandemic. The story revolves around a global virus that causes memory loss, leading to loneliness and isolation for both the afflicted and their loved ones. While the timing of the film’s release is coincidental, its themes resonate deeply with the current times, urging viewers to cherish what is dear to them.
The film, directed by Chad Hartigan and based on a screenplay by Mattson Tomlin, is inspired by a short story by Aja Gabel published a decade earlier. Despite the fictional illness having different symptoms from COVID-19, the parallels in societal responses are striking. Scenes of people wearing masks, anxiously waiting in hospitals, and the constant news coverage of the virus’s spread feel eerily familiar. As the situation escalates, panic sets in, with mobs gathering outside hospitals, desperately seeking help or reassurance.
Amid this chaos, the narrative focuses on the love story between Emma, a veterinary technician played by Olivia Cooke, and Jude, a photographer and former addict portrayed by Jack O’Connell. Their relationship blossoms after a chance meeting on a secluded beach, facilitated by a lovable dog named Blue. The film often shifts in time, offering glimpses of their early romance through fleeting, dreamlike moments—joyful trips to a water park, sparklers at a backyard party, and stolen kisses at a nightclub. These scenes, though seemingly free and ephemeral, gain profound significance as the story unfolds.
While the use of such montage techniques might feel conventional in indie films, it serves a purpose here, emphasizing the fragile and elusive nature of memory. “Little Fish” is a quiet yet powerful reminder of the importance of holding onto the moments and people that matter most, especially in uncertain times.
Cast director: Chad Hartigan
Cast actor: Olivia Cooke, Jack O’Connell, SoKo, Raúl Castillo, David Lennon, Mackenzie Cardwell, Ross Wirtanen, Heather Decksheimer, Natalie Smith, Ron Robinson
Original name: Little Fish