Andrea Arnold's instant-classic second feature, Fish Tank (2009), is the story of 15-year old Mia (Katie Jarvis) who lives in a housing estate near Tilbury on the edge of Greater London. 'London Belongs To Me' is a bizarrely-not-on-youtube-anywhere, track from Saint Etienne's classic debut album, Foxbase Alpha (1991). My video brings these two personal favorites together, I hope productively (and not just punningly). Fish Tank of course has its own musical agenda (Mia dances mainly to hip-hop) and Saint Etienne are more middle class/college/central London than Mia (and SE's title comes from a central-London-set 1945 novel, which was apparently well-filmed in 1948: [ Ссылка ] ). Still, I think the pairing works. Maybe it's Arnold and Saint Etienne who are simpatico, and, of course my short vid. favors the severely beautiful (and Mia alone) above the more cumulative tense and desperate (and Mia in conflict with others) aspects of Arnold's vision, thereby skewing matters towards SE's wry, near beatific take on London life. At any rate, all Saint Etienne Fans need to see Fish Tank, and Mia/Katie Jarvis fans (who probably are into Katy B nowadays) should explore SE generally and Foxbase Alpha in particular. And Katie Jarvis needs to act again! Cast her somebody.

The characteristically unshowy but effective and affecting lyrics for London Belongs to Me are as follows:
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Took a tube to Camden Town
Walked down Park Way and settled down
In the shade of a willow tree
Someone hovering over me

Close my eyes,
Breathe out slowly
Today the sunshine loves me only

To the sound of the World of Twist
You leant over and gave me a kiss
It's too warm to even hold hands
But that won't stop us from making plans.

Close our eyes,
Breathe out slowly
Today London loves us only

Do you ever wonder where we've been?
Do you ever wonder where we're going?
Just close your eyes.
Just close your eyes.

Just close your eyes
And breathe out slowly
Tonight the world loves you only

Just close your eyes
Just close your eyes
Just close your eyes
Just close your eyes

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