I didn't like it because it seemed like it was too full of itself. I enjoyed some of the actors' portrayals and some moments elicited laughter, however for the most part it seemed a masturbatory affair about clichés regarding New York, musicians, artists, idealism = uselessness, young couples and their troubles, with some irreverent twee magic "surrealism" monologues which are actually the only good moments in the film. You will probably like this film if you wear no socks with shoes, have moustache wax, a collection of vintage cameras and/or a couple Belle & Sebastian albums. An utterly missable watch. I do wish a lot of young film makers would be more critical or aware of glaring and objectifying clichés running rampant throughout their work, rather than ham- fistedly wielding them like rubber chickens while flogging the movie-watching public with their excretions on cinema. The delineation between sincerity, sarcasm and irony is far too subtle and haphazard for my tastes. In the end they took my money, so I'm feeling a bit violated right now.
8 Reviews
Oh my
cineamante3 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I saw Swim Little Fish Swim in a local festival. When I first looked at the rating on IMDb, it was 8.1 or something with 37 votes. I've decided that basically consisted of the actors and crew (with some of the crew perhaps abstaining since they have some integrity or taste).
And why would a film that played Rotterdam have so few votes anyway? Don't misunderstand me. SLFS has its moments. Some of its satire of the New York arts scene is dead on. There's some interesting music. The acting (at least on the part of the 3-person family at center)is not bad. But most of the movie is, well, self-indulgent twaddle. As Variety correctly notes, there's "a certain tweeness" about this picture. The word "cloying" also comes up in the review. One Krispy Kreme donut may be a pleasure. Eating an entire box of them by yourself will make you sick. This film has the same effect and it lasts longer. I kept wanting to leave, but I stuck it out on cinephile principle. And it was painful. Hipster whimsy is one thing. Hipster whimsy with sprinkles and a sparkler on top is something else. I have a feeling that much of the twaddle and self-indulgence can be laid at the feet of Lola Bessis, who decided to cast herself as irritating gamine extraordinaire and had her SO, Ruben Amar, shoot her oh so lovingly and shoot the only mature character in the film, Mary, like a wizened shrew. S'il vous plait Lola, come on.
And why would a film that played Rotterdam have so few votes anyway? Don't misunderstand me. SLFS has its moments. Some of its satire of the New York arts scene is dead on. There's some interesting music. The acting (at least on the part of the 3-person family at center)is not bad. But most of the movie is, well, self-indulgent twaddle. As Variety correctly notes, there's "a certain tweeness" about this picture. The word "cloying" also comes up in the review. One Krispy Kreme donut may be a pleasure. Eating an entire box of them by yourself will make you sick. This film has the same effect and it lasts longer. I kept wanting to leave, but I stuck it out on cinephile principle. And it was painful. Hipster whimsy is one thing. Hipster whimsy with sprinkles and a sparkler on top is something else. I have a feeling that much of the twaddle and self-indulgence can be laid at the feet of Lola Bessis, who decided to cast herself as irritating gamine extraordinaire and had her SO, Ruben Amar, shoot her oh so lovingly and shoot the only mature character in the film, Mary, like a wizened shrew. S'il vous plait Lola, come on.
a really cool, refreshing, exotic, funny and entertaining movie!
agathetremblay120 March 2014
I saw Swim Little Fish Swim at Créteil Film Festival last Tuesday. This is, for now, one of my favorite film or the year! This is a really cool, refreshing, exotic, funny and entertaining movie. The actors performances are always true and the whole movie is very realistic(which is increasingly rare in French films) The pace is well thought out, the scenario well-crafted and the visual style is beautiful, which is rare in low-budget films. But what impressed me the most are the music/soundtrack (the main character is a musician), very original and funny. I look forward to the release to watch it with my mother (64 years old) and my son (14 years) because it is a film multi-generational in many ways!
An real indie gem!
areaute10 July 2014
A beautiful movie about freedom, freedom of art, life outside of your home country. Refreshing and remarkably directed for a first movie. It is definitely a must-see in the world of indie gems. I watched when it was reelased in theaters in France and it is really one of the best film of the year. Actors are remarkable and some are very well-known (Brooke Bloom that had played in Angelina Jolie's movie or Anne Consigny who is a great French actress). I definitely recommend it to anyone who like those types of young movies that you watch with some mi of joy and soft melancholia. In the line of Frances Ha or 2 Days in Paris, that I had loved as well.
Swim Little Fish Swim is a beautiful comedy and a beautifully tragic film at the same time!
philipperochois8 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Leeward and Mary were already going through growing pains before Lilas enters their lives. With a young daughter whose name remains a subject of debate despite the fact she's four years old, their domestic arrangement is equally unsettled since Mary brings in the rent as a nurse while Leeward stays at home to work on his music, the convenience of raising their child gradually being outweighed in Mary's mind by her desire to buy a house in the suburbs. When Lilas arrives, fleeing her famous artist mother's reach to carve out a career for herself across the Atlantic, Leeward sees a kindred spirit and uses the inspiration to reinvigorate his flagging musical career.
Swim Little Fish Swim is a beautiful comedy, charming and visually attractive but also a sweet romantic drama with a great soundtrack and solid performances!
Swim Little Fish Swim is a beautiful comedy, charming and visually attractive but also a sweet romantic drama with a great soundtrack and solid performances!
I love this film!
christadagenais8 April 2014
I watch it at the festival of Creteil 2014... one big surprise of the festival! I watch DANCING IN JAFFA and WHAT THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT LOVE and I didn't know what to expect with SWIM LITTLE FISH SWIM... Anyone will appreciate Swim Little Fish Swim... This is a film about the perennial battle between art and commerce, between dreams of success and the unkind reality that shatters those dreams...Swim Little Fish Swim also entertains me with oddball characters...from naked artists shooting arrows at paint-filled balloons to Leeward's controlling, sort of observant Jewish family, and to a fast-talking recording studio engineer who insists that dozens of world-famous musicians have recorded at his bargain-basement studio. (It's doubtful that Annie Lennox took advantage of the studio's $999 recording-and-CDs special.)! Go see it!
Embrace the talent of young artists
info-341-26805810 July 2014
Art can inspire in a lot of ways but it is also a cruel world where success is very uncertain, doubt always present and misunderstanding often at the corner. This well-directed indie gem shows all of that with an inherent talent and sincerity. Refreshing, this movie will inspire everyone that had once been in between his crazy dreams and the sometimes harsh reality. All that with a very light tone that will make you feel real good. For a first film I found it really remarkable and I hope it will have a great success when released in theaters in the US. Definitely worth watching it again. Run in theaters or for any format you like when you have the chance.
Un excellent premier film!
laurencecauchois-952-45954319 March 2014
A wonderful film that I saw at a film festival in Créteil in France!
I had been hearing of it for a while and really wanted to see it but it's even better than what I expected from the trailer!
I recommend anyone to go see it as soon as possible! I've been very impressed by the acting!!! Especially the little girl!
New York is really well shown and the music is great! It made me think of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE in a way!
It made me laugh and cry at the same time and I'm still thinking of it several days after... it's a funny, clever and original movie! Go see it, you won't regret it!
I had been hearing of it for a while and really wanted to see it but it's even better than what I expected from the trailer!
I recommend anyone to go see it as soon as possible! I've been very impressed by the acting!!! Especially the little girl!
New York is really well shown and the music is great! It made me think of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE in a way!
It made me laugh and cry at the same time and I'm still thinking of it several days after... it's a funny, clever and original movie! Go see it, you won't regret it!
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