A FAMILY drama starring a first-time actress cast after being spotted arguing on a railway platform begins the British campaign at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday.
Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold, centres on a teenager and the disruptive effect her mother's new boyfriend has on their close family life.
Other UK films competing for the coveted Palme d'Or are Jane Campion's Bright Star and Ken Loach's Loo
king for Eric, which stars former Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona.
They face stiff competition for the Palme d'Or: legendary directors Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier and Ang Lee are all up for the award.
Fish Tank stars Michael Fassbender, who won plaudits for his portrayal of Bobby Sands in Hunger last year, alongside first-time actress Katie Jarvis, 17, cast after being spotted at Tilbury station in Essex.
The 62nd festival began yesterday with a gala screening of Up, the new 3D animation from Pixar-Disney. The event runs until 24 May.
Jarvis was not in Cannes for the film's launch yesterday as she is at home in Tilbury after giving birth to daughter Lily-Mae last week.
Arnold said she went for Jarvis after deciding she wanted a "real" person for the role. "I wanted a girl who would not have to act, could just be herself," she said.
After drawing a blank with casting agencies, Arnold spent time looking around youth clubs, markets and shopping centres around Essex before finding Jarvis
"She was on one platform arguing with her boyfriend on another platform, giving him grief," she said.
"Filming was an interesting experience for her, because she'd never done anything like this in her life – she was not long out of school and hadn't yet done any form of work.
"Going on a film where she was up at 5-6am – and she's in every scene – was very intense for her."
Arnold said the significance of the Cannes nomination had not really sunk in for the young actress. "I don't think she quite understands what this means," she said.
Jarvis has an agent now, but Arnold said she was still undecided about whether to pursue an acting career.
Interviewed for the press notes, Jarvis said: "I learned a lot doing the film. It made me learn that I could do things if I wanted to do it. It was hard, but it was fun and rewarding. It shows you don't have to go to drama school to get into it, but I think I was one of a kind. I don't think anybody else will get picked off a train station."
