‘Little Fish’ is a rare pandemic film that you might actually like.

For the second year now, we have been living in an era of pandemic with all its consequences: a deadly disease, social and other restrictions. This new reality has put filmmakers in difficult conditions, but at the same time opened up space for creative expression. One of the most striking attempts to comprehend this unusual experience can be considered the romantic film ‘Little Fish’. The action unfolds during a pandemic, but one somewhat different from the one we know firsthand.

What is love, if not a series of shared memories?

The relationship between veterinarian Emma (Olivia Cooke) and photographer Jude (Jack O'Connell) is threatened by a rapidly spreading virus that erases people's memories. No one is immune to suddenly losing knowledge about a loved one or even about themselves. And this circumstance makes every shared moment unique and possibly the last.

In terms of visual tone and narrative style, ‘Little Fish’ strongly evokes another fantastic love story where memory played a significant role: the film ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’. Here, too, there are many stylish and meticulously crafted shots in muted tones. Similarly to Michel Gondry's film, this one also presents a kaleidoscope of different episodes from the characters' lives, chaotically scattered across the runtime.

Nevertheless, the film's director Chad Hartigan reflects on a somewhat different plane. He is more concerned with the question of whether people can love each other instinctively, without attachment to any lived history. Throughout this ephemeral and non-linear story, there are attempts to understand what remains if moments of unity and tender memories literally slip through your fingers, whether psychological and emotional bonds between people can overcome physiology.

Beautiful, thoughtful, melancholic

The love story of the characters played by Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell has no unique, bright flashes. There is no emotional strain, no amazing meeting or series of quarrels. But it cannot be called unemotional. The actors very subtly and sensually depict moments of everyday life: from kisses in a nightclub to walking the dog. And this simplicity, backed by the stylish cinematography of Sean McElwee, truly captivates. It helps you empathize with these simple and relatable young people, their feelings and mutual understanding. And this also allows you to fully feel the inevitably approaching end of the story, which, however, will manage to surprise you.

‘Little Fish’ is a dark but very beautiful and intimate story of true love, brilliantly performed by Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell.

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