Miracle Fish is a 2009 Australian short film directed by Luke Doolan that follows a day in the life of an 8-year-old boy named Joe (played by Karl Beattie). The film depicts Joe as a socially isolated child who is bullied by his classmates and ignored by his teacher. The movie opens with Joe experiencing one of the worst days of his life. It is his eighth birthday, and he is looking forward to the event with great enthusiasm. However, things do not go as planned when his classmates bully and abuse him. Unable to cope with the humiliation, Joe hides in the school's medical room, where he falls asleep.
When he wakes up, he finds that everyone has left the school because of a bomb scare. Believing it to be his lucky day, Joe wanders around the empty school campus, enjoying his newfound freedom. However, as the day draws to a close, Joe realizes that he is alone and trapped in the school.
As Joe's desperation grows, he fantasizes about having a guardian angel who will rescue him from his plight. Suddenly, a strange man (Brendan Donoghue) appears, startling Joe. The man informs Joe that the school is closed and that he is there to clean the pool. Joe is relieved to find someone, but he still feels unsafe around the strange adult.
The stranger eventually leaves, but not before giving Joe a present. The gift is a keychain with a miracle fish on it. The stranger tells Joe that the fish will grant him three wishes. Doubtful at first, Joe soon finds that the fish has indeed granted his wish, and he is suddenly no longer alone.
As the night wears on, Joe makes a series of wishes that have both positive and negative outcomes. He makes friends with one of the bullies who abused him earlier, but he also unintentionally causes harm to his teacher, who was suffering from a heart condition.
The film's ending is bittersweet, as Joe realizes that his wishes have come at a cost. He must now live with the consequences of his actions, both good and bad. However, the film does offer a glimmer of hope, as Joe realizes that he is not entirely alone in the world.
Miracle Fish is a beautifully shot film that explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and the power of imagination. It is an emotional journey that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, bullied, or ignored. The film's unique storytelling style, which combines fantasy and reality, delivers a powerful message about the importance of kindness, empathy, and human connection.
Miracle Fish is a 2009 drama with a runtime of 17 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.
