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The Squid and the Whale
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The Squid and the Whale (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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The Squid and the Whale -- 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 1980's.
The Squid and the Whale -- 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 1980's.
The Squid and the Whale -- 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 1980's.

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   43,607 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Noah Baumbach
Writer (WGA):
Noah Baumbach (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Squid and the Whale on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 March 2006 (Turkey) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Drama See more »
Tagline:
Joint Custody Blows.
Plot:
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. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 19 wins & 27 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(418 articles)
Greta's New Wave: Frances Ha
 (From Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy. 17 May 2013, 6:27 PM, PDT)
Noah Baumbach on 'Frances Ha': Why It Took 40 Takes to Make a Little Story Feel Epic
 (From The Wrap. 17 May 2013, 11:19 AM, PDT)
Sleeper To See: Greta Gerwig Elicits Ha-Has With Indie Comedy 'Frances Ha'
 (From Fandango. 17 May 2013, 10:16 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
The break up See more (205 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Owen Kline ... Frank Berkman

Jeff Daniels ... Bernard Berkman

Laura Linney ... Joan Berkman

Jesse Eisenberg ... Walt Berkman

William Baldwin ... Ivan
David Benger ... Carl

Anna Paquin ... Lili
Molly Barton ... Graduate Student
Bo Berkman ... Graduate Student
Matthew Kaplan ... Graduate Student
Simon Kaplan ... Graduate Student
Matthew Kirsch ... Graduate Student
Daniella Markowicz ... Graduate Student

Elizabeth Meriwether ... Graduate Student
Ben Schrank ... Graduate Student
Amy Srebnick ... Graduate Student
Josh Srebnick ... Graduate Student
Emma Straub ... Graduate Student
Alan Wilkis ... Graduate Student (as Alan Wilks)
James Hamilton ... Man with Joan

Adam Rose ... Otto
Henry Glovinsky ... Lance

Eli Gelb ... Jeffrey

Halley Feiffer ... Sophie Greenberg
Wayne Lawson ... Talent Show Judge
Michael Santiago ... Talent Show Judge
Juan Torriente ... Talent Show Judge
Patricia Towers ... Talent Show Judge

Peggy Gormley ... Mrs. Greenberg
Peter Newman ... Mr. Greenberg
Greta Kline ... Greta Greenberg
Melissa Meyer ... Professor
Benjamin Smolen ... Student with Puppets

Michael Countryman ... Mr. Simic

Alexandra Daddario ... Pretty Girl
Nico Baumbach ... Jeb Gelber
Maryann Plunkett ... Ms. Lemon
Hector Otero ... Hector

Ken Leung ... School Therapist

Jo Yang ... Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Joyce DeWitt ... Janet Wood (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Directed by
Noah Baumbach 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Noah Baumbach (written by)

Produced by
Wes Anderson .... producer
Reverge Anselmo .... executive producer
Miranda Bailey .... executive producer
Charlie Corwin .... producer
Greg Johnson .... executive producer
Andrew Lauren .... executive producer
Clara Markowicz .... producer
Peter Newman .... producer
Jennifer Roth .... co-producer (as Jennifer M. Roth)
 
Original Music by
Britta Phillips 
Dean Wareham 
 
Cinematography by
Robert D. Yeoman (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Tim Streeto 
 
Casting by
Douglas Aibel 
 
Production Design by
Anne Ross 
 
Art Direction by
Jennifer Dehghan 
 
Set Decoration by
Robert Covelman 
 
Costume Design by
Amy Westcott 
 
Makeup Department
Lori Guidroz .... key hair stylist
Maya Hardinge .... key makeup artist
 
Production Management
Hans Graffunder .... unit production manager
Joe Hobeck .... additional post-production supervisor
Christopher Kenneally .... post-production supervisor (as Chris Kenneally)
Jennifer Roth .... unit production manager (as Jennifer M. Roth)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David 'Wex' Wechsler .... first assistant director (as David Wechsler)
Adam T. Weisinger .... second second assistant director
Eric Yellin .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Costanza Theodoli Braschi .... art department assistant
Jason Bruno .... art department assistant
Jeff Butcher .... property master
Barker Gerard .... art department assistant
Nancy Griffith .... first assistant props
Madeline O. Hartling .... camera scenic (as Madeline Hartling)
Julie Ho .... art department assistant
Richard Laurenzi .... camera scenic
Lars Lindahl .... art department assistant (as Lars Lindhal)
Laura Ng .... art department assistant
Michael Raisler .... art department assistant (as Mike Raisler)
James Sherman .... on-set dresser
Charley Siegel .... art department assistant (as Charles Siegel)
Susan Tatom .... lead person
David Wexler .... art department assistant
 
Sound Department
Shaun Brennan .... foley artist
Allan Byer .... sound mixer
Rachel Chancey .... foley editor
Rachel Chancey .... foley recordist
Mark Filip .... sound effects editor
Lewis Goldstein .... sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein .... supervising sound editor
Jay Peck .... foley artist
Peter Schneider .... additional sound
Julia Shirar .... dialogue editor
Derek Somaru .... post-production sound intern
Alfredo Viteri .... boom operator
Damian Volpe .... adr recordist
Damian Volpe .... foley recordist
 
Visual Effects by
Markus Janner .... digital opticals: Duart Digital
Jennifer Russomanno .... digital opticals: Duart Digital
Keith Yurevitz .... digital opticals: Duart Digital
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Andres .... grip
Evelina Andres .... grip
Robert M. Andres .... key grip (as Bob Andres)
Alison Barton .... best boy grip (as Allison Barton)
Nico Baumbach .... videographer
Nils Benson .... camera operator
Lamont Crawford .... grip
George Elias .... grip
Lisa Marie Gleeson .... electrician
James Hamilton .... still photographer
Chris Hayes .... electrician
Bernard James .... electrician
Jendra Jarnagin .... additional electrician
Hardwick Johnson .... special thanks: Camera Service Center
Keith Kalohelani .... electrician
Scott Kincaid .... electrician
Doug Kofsky .... second assistant camera
Taylor Levy .... camera production assistant
Scott Maher .... electrician
Simeon Moore .... electrician
Beth O'Brien .... electrician
Storn Peterson .... first assistant camera
Nate Ranger .... assistant camera
Gay E. Riedel .... electrician (as Gay Riedel)
Dave Rudolph .... electrician
John Schwartz .... best boy electric
Douglas W. Shannon .... gaffer
Steve Speers .... second assistant camera (as Stephen Speers)
Charlie Tammaro .... special thanks: Camera Service Center
Irapaul Turner .... grip (as Ira Paul Turner)
 
Casting Department
Gimardi Cueto .... extras casting associate
Stephanie Holbrook .... casting associate
Ulysses Terrero .... extras casting: T & T Casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mei Lai Hippisley Coxe .... set costumer
Karen Malecki .... assistant costume designer (as Karen Waiton)
Lisa Marzolf .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Perri B. Frank .... assistant editor
Noëlle Penraat .... negative cutter
David Pultz .... color timer
 
Music Department
Jim Dunbar .... music coordinator
Diego Garrido .... score mixer
Christopher S. Parker .... music clearance
Randall Poster .... music supervisor
Daniel Srebnick .... composer: additional music (as Daniel Antonio Srebnick)
 
Transportation Department
Jason Buim .... driver: camera/sound truck
Kevin Flynn .... transportation captain
Jim Kelly .... driver: grip and electric truck
Louis Lapat .... driver: prop truck
 
Other crew
Michael Altman .... set production assistant
Donna L. Bascom .... production counsel (as Donna Bascom Esq.)
Daniel Beers .... assistant: American Empirical
Richard Bever .... assistant: Andrew Lauren (as Richard Beaver)
Stacy Bissell .... location assistant
Sandra Chwialkowska .... set production assistant
Erich Eilenberger .... set production assistant
Massoumeh Emami .... script supervisor
Walter Foote .... financial counsel: Foote And Associates (as Walter Foote Esq.)
Michael Fucci .... location manager
Felix Grisebach .... set production assistant
Chelsea Horenstein .... assistant: Peter Newman
Markus Janner .... titles: Duart Digital
Todd Judson .... assistant production coordinator
Sophie Kaplan .... office production assistant
Gabriel Koplowitz .... set production assistant
Steve Kornacki .... production coordinator
Keith Krinsky .... assistant location manager
Lacey Leavitt .... assistant to producers
Thomas K. Lee .... key set production assistant (as Tom Lee)
Martin Leicht .... set production assistant
Patrick Mahoney .... craft service
Cecilia Morelli .... set production assistant
Alison Norod .... set production assistant (as Ali Norod)
Lillian Parker .... assistant: American Empirical
Alyson Perlongo .... assistant: Original Media
Jill K. Perno .... production assistant
Angel Pina .... catering assistant (as Angelo Pina)
Carla Pisarro .... office production assistant
Oliver Refson .... set production assistant
Jennifer Russomanno .... titles: Duart Digital
Deidre Schrowang .... post-production accountant
Deidre Schrowang .... production accountant
Adam Shakinovsky .... set production assistant
Leanne Shapton .... title designer
Susan Soh .... assistant: Mr. Baumbach
Jason Stant .... first assistant accountant (as Jason R. Stant)
Rebecca Taber .... set production assistant
Gerald Tonnegin .... set production assistant
Anthony Torre .... caterer
Keith Yurevitz .... titles: Duart Digital
 
Thanks
Roger Arar .... special thanks (as Roger Arar Esq.)
Molly Barton .... special thanks
Jonathan Baumbach .... special thanks
Peter Bogdanovich .... special thanks
Georgia Brown .... special thanks
Michael Cary .... special thanks
Phoebe Cates .... special thanks
Sofia Coppola .... special thanks
Patrick Costello .... special thanks
Maureen Duffy .... special thanks
Laura Durning .... special thanks
John Fundus .... special thanks
Kevin Ginty .... special thanks
Annette Grant .... special thanks
Robert Greenhut .... special thanks
Bradley M. Gross .... special thanks (as Brad Gross)
Mike Harrop .... special thanks (as Michael Harrop)
Bonnie Hlinomaz .... special thanks (as Bonnie Wells-Hlinomaz)
Kevin Kline .... special thanks
Karen Lauder .... special thanks
Phillis Lehmer .... special thanks
Jennifer Jason Leigh .... special thanks
Howard Michaels .... special thanks
John Quested .... special thanks
Nick Quested .... special thanks
Gunilla Ross .... special thanks
Ben Schrank .... special thanks
Jeremy Scott .... special thanks
Phil Scotti .... special thanks
Eric Shonz .... special thanks
Sallie Slate .... special thanks
Marion Spiegelman .... special thanks
Tim Spitzer .... special thanks
Fred Toczek .... special thanks
Giovanni Tognozzi .... special thanks: Bar Pitti (as Giovanni)
Barbara Turner .... special thanks
Elizabeth Untiedt .... special thanks
Thea Vokins .... special thanks
Roger Waters .... special thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic dialogue and language
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
81 min | Canada:88 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:14 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:Btl | Germany:12 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Peru:14
Filming Locations:
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USASee more »
Company:
Samuel Goldwyn FilmsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
'Jeff Daniels (I')' character says that he is going to SUNY Binghamton to do a reading towards the end of the movie. While the film is not actually shot on the campus of BU, the actor who plays Ivan, William Baldwin, is an actual alum of Binghamton University.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When ambulance arrives for Bernard, it is clearly daytime. When he is placed inside and it departs, it is night.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Frank Berkman:Mom and me versus you and Dad.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #14.8" (2006)See more »
Soundtrack:
KyrieSee more »

FAQ

What is it that Frank coughs up after getting drunk?
What is the picture that Frank masturbates to?
What's the movie they see in the cinema?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
63 out of 109 people found the following review useful.
The break up, 20 October 2005
Author: jotix100 from New York

Noah Baumbach, the immensely talented writer, and director of "The Squid and the Whale" clearly demonstrates he is one of the brightest young directors working in America today. Having admired his previous films, we were looking forward to this new work in which he presents a part of his life, baring his soul, something some other movie makers would shy away from. This experience must have been a painful reminder for Mr. Baumbah of his past, or maybe it served as a catharsis.

If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading here.

The Berkman household in Park Slope, Brooklyn, appears to be normal when we are introduced to the family. These are the kinds of parents that encourage their two children participate in discussions in which books are at the center of the conversation. What's more, Walt, the eldest boy, seems to know a lot about what is discussed. Bernard, the father, is an author that hasn't got a lot of recognition and now teaches college to support the family. Joan, the mother, also a writer, is starting to get her work published. The two sons, Walt and Frank are clever beyond their years.

Evidently, not all seems to be happy in the house. First, one notices Bernard making the couch in the morning, in which he has slept in order to "ease his back problems". Joan, is a supporting mother, but somehow, she appears to be distant. Both parents sit with the kids one night to tell them about their impending separation. Of course, this takes Frank, and especially Frank aback by the announcement. The semblance of a tightly knit family begins to unravel in front of the children's eyes.

For Walt, the situation is not as crucial as it is for Frank. Being older and being a city kid, Walt has seen this happening among his age group. For Frank, however, his parents break up is the end of the world, as he knew it. Both boys are resilient in accepting the situation. It's clear Bernard and Joan love their sons, but the idea of not having both parents around at the same time is devastating.

"The Squid and the Whale" is a film that lays bare the emotions the two boys are experiencing. Basically, it's their film as it shows how they have to adjust to the new circumstances. They both adore their parents, but the resentment is clear as they blame Bernard and Joan for daring to fall out of love and in a way, abandon them to a new reality the older Berkmans didn't prepared them for.

The quality of the acting Mr. Baumbach gets from this ensemble cast is absolutely amazing. We believe we are, in a way, intruding in this family's problems. We are voyeurs to the tragedy their separation presents for the boys. Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are perfect as the elder Berkmans. Mr. Daniels, especially, gives an inspired performance for his take of the stingy Bernard. Ms. Linney, one of our best actresses, is marvelous as Joan.

What the director has done with the young actors, Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline is something incredible. We can't think of any other director that could have accomplished what Noah Baumbach has in guiding them to make the great contribution both these teen agers gave to the film. Both actors are up to the task and there are never a false move from anyone of them.

The supporting cast is interesting. William Baldwin plays the tennis pro Ivan. Anna Paquin is good as Lili, Bernard's student that is wiser than her young years indicate. Halley Feiffer is perfectly sweet as Sophie who likes Walt.

The film has been photographed in a faded technique by Robert Yeoman that gives the film a nostalgic look. The musical score is fine, reflecting the era in which the movie takes place.

The movie is a triumph for Noah Baumbah who clearly shows he is an unique voice for these times.

Was the above review useful to you?
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white people problems MrsSirPaul
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