As of 2026, the film is available on select streaming platforms. For Arabic-speaking viewers looking for a (subtitled or dubbed) version:
Because the actual feature-length film with a similar name is The Fish That Swam Upside Down (2019, Korean), which has nothing to do with this. The 2020 short film is the correct match for the keyword. As of 2026, the film is available on
: The summer of passion quickly devolves into jealousy and possessiveness, leading to a tragic implosion where the characters are burdened by unspoken guilt. Key Themes and Style : The summer of passion quickly devolves into
The fish swimming upside down is a — living but not thriving. Unlike common mental health metaphors (darkness, weight, fog), the fish remains visible, active, but wrong-side-up. Children understand it immediately. Adults see their own burnout. Children understand it immediately
(originally titled Ein Fisch, der auf dem Rücken schwimmt ) is a German drama film directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Eliza Petkova. It premiered at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in 2020. 📖 The Plot
Reviewers on platforms like IMDb and Letterboxd describe the film as a slow-paced, "arty" mood piece. Reviews of A Fish Swimming Upside Down (2020) - Letterboxd