In “Little Fish,” a recovering heroin addict named Tracy (Cate Blanchett) wants to open up her own Internet cafe, but when she crosses paths with some old companions from the drug trade, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay clean.

“Cate Blanchett gives a nuanced, grounded performance as Tracy,” says SBS. The actress “makes a feast of the despairing, nervy, ever-resourceful Tracy,” says film critic Adrian Martin, even if it’s sometimes difficult for viewers to accept they are looking at a lower-class Australian woman with a troubled past instead of a world-renowned actress playing that role.

Still, Time Out appreciates the director’s choice to give viewers an anticlimax instead of a traditional thriller climax. “Little Fish” may lose its momentum by the end, says Eye for Film, but it deserves credit for its complex characters. “No character [in this film] is detestable; rather they are lovable rogues with forgivable weaknesses”

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).