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The Squid and the Whale (2005)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  3 March 2006 (Turkey)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 43,673 users   Metascore: 82/100
Reviews: 205 user | 155 critic | 37 from Metacritic.com

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.

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Title: The Squid and the Whale (2005)

The Squid and the Whale (2005) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 19 wins & 27 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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...
...
...
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Ivan
David Benger ...
Carl
...
Molly Barton ...
Graduate Student
Bo Berkman ...
Graduate Student
Matthew Kaplan ...
Graduate Student
Simon Kaplan ...
Graduate Student
Matthew Kirsch ...
Graduate Student
Daniella Markowicz ...
Graduate Student
...
Graduate Student
Ben Schrank ...
Graduate Student
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Storyline

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 with his girlfriend Sophie. Meanwhile Joan has an affair with Frank's tennis teacher Ivan and Bernard with his student Lili. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

boy | writer | tennis | marriage | book | See more »

Taglines:

Joint Custody Blows.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic dialogue and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (Turkey)  »

Also Known As:

A Lula e a Baleia  »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$43,776 (Brazil) (14 April 2006)

Gross:

£506,477 (UK) (5 May 2006)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

|

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeff Daniels was scheduled to film The Five People You Meet in Heaven when The Squid and the Whale was set to start production. The beard Jeff Daniels has in The Five People You Meet In Heaven is there only because he felt his character in The Squid and the Whale would have had a beard. See more »

Goofs

The ambulance that takes Bernard to the hospital after his heart attack has the 9/11 memorial logo (Twin Towers) on the back. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Frank Berkman: Mom and me versus you and Dad.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Conan: Heavy Hangs the Fannypack (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Swimming Song"
Written and Performed by Loudon Wainwright III
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with SONY BMG Music Licensing
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Great script and a cast of champions
19 September 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Almost a perfect movie. Everyone needs to see this one.

Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are both extraordinary. Factor in the performances of Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline and this may be the most well-acted movie I've seen in a couple of years.

I've never enjoyed watching Daniels so much. Kline hits a home-run in his first major role. Eisenberg's performance is Oscar-worthy. (Yes, Daniels is great, but Eisenberg earns a Best Supporting Actor nomination in this one!)

What I enjoyed most of all is how some very, VERY delicate humor is brilliantly woven throughout this incredibly sad movie.

Cheers to Noah Baumbach for putting his life on paper and letting these terrific actors tell the tale.

That's it. Thanks for reading.


88 of 146 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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