In Burnett's sweet and sincere romantic comedy, two new tenants of an apartment building grow close together, despite their peculiar eccentricities. Fish (Jones) has recently been released from a mental institution for fighting with a figment of his imagination, while Poinsettia (Redgrave) has recently broken up with her ‘lover’, the long-dead 19th century composer Puccini. Without sensationalising or poking fun at their life experiences, The Annihilation of Fish uncovers each one's unique humanity amidst the hijinks and whimsical humour.

“Charles Burnett is one of the finest filmmakers in this country. His pictures speak in a cinematic voice that is uniquely and completely his own.” Martin Scorsese