The Squid and the Whale

"Joint custody blows."

Dec 16 2005 R 1h 21m
Comedy, Drama

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Plot

In 1986, In Brooklyn, New York, the dysfunctional family of pseudo intellectuals composed by the university professor Bernard and the prominent writer Joan split. Bernard is a selfish, cheap and jealous decadent writer that rationalizes every attitude in his family and life and does not accept "philistines" - people that do not read books or watch movies, while the unfaithful Joan is growing as a writer and has no problems with "philistines". Their sons, the teenager Walt and the boy Frank, feel the separation and take side: Walt stays with Bernard, and Frank with Joan, and both are affected with abnormal behaviors. Frank drinks booze and smears with sperm the books in the library and a locker in the dress room of his school. The messed-up and insecure Walt uses Roger Water's song "Hey You" in a festival as if it was of his own, and breaks up with his girlfriend Sophie. Meanwhile Joan has an affair with Frank's tennis teacher Ivan and Bernard with his student Lili.

Written by

Noah Baumbach

Directed by

Noah Baumbach

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Andrew Lauren Productions, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Destination Films, Sony Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 23 wins & 49 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
94,459
Average Rating
7.3 out of 10
Metascore
82
Popularity
NA