The Annihilation of Fish
United States • 1999
Director
Synopsis
Virtually unseen for years only to reemerge as a lost gem of American independent cinema, this surprising, ineffably tender romantic comedy from master director Charles Burnett (KILLER OF SHEEP) features unforgettable performances from James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave as two lost souls who find an unexpected home in each other. Fish (Jones) is a gentle Jamaican immigrant wrestling (quite literally) with his inner demons, while Poinsettia (Redgrave) is a brash eccentric with delusions of her own. When they meet as neighbors in a Los Angeles boardinghouse, a tentative relationship offers them both an escape from their shared loneliness. Touching on themes of mental illness, aging, and race with supreme delicacy, Burnett brings Fish and Poinsettia’s troubled but colorful world to life with boundless grace and compassion.
Synopsis
Virtually unseen for years only to reemerge as a lost gem of American independent cinema, this surprising, ineffably tender romantic comedy from master director Charles Burnett (KILLER OF SHEEP) features unforgettable performances from James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave as two lost souls who find an unexpected home in each other. Fish (Jones) is a gentle Jamaican immigrant wrestling (quite literally) with his inner demons, while Poinsettia (Redgrave) is a brash eccentric with delusions of her own. When they meet as neighbors in a Los Angeles boardinghouse, a tentative relationship offers them both an escape from their shared loneliness. Touching on themes of mental illness, aging, and race with supreme delicacy, Burnett brings Fish and Poinsettia’s troubled but colorful world to life with boundless grace and compassion.
Credits
Crew
DirectorCharles Burnett
WriterAnthony C. Winkler
CinematographerJohn L. Demps Jr., Rick Robinson
ComposerLaura Karpman
EditorNancy Richardson