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The Squid and the Whale

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
83K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, and Owen Kline in The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:25
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

Follows two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.Follows two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.Follows two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
83K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Noah Baumbach
  • Writer
    • Noah Baumbach
  • Stars
    • Owen Kline
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Laura Linney
Top credits
  • Director
    • Noah Baumbach
  • Writer
    • Noah Baumbach
  • Stars
    • Owen Kline
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Laura Linney
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 289User reviews
    • 128Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 23 wins & 49 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Squid and the Whale
    Trailer 2:25
    The Squid and the Whale
    The Squid and the Whale
    Trailer 2:30
    The Squid and the Whale
    The Squid and the Whale
    Trailer 2:25
    The Squid and the Whale

    Photos106

    Halley Feiffer at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Jeff Daniels at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    William Baldwin, Noah Baumbach, Jeff Daniels, Jesse Eisenberg, Halley Feiffer, and Owen Kline at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Jesse Eisenberg at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Kevin Kline and Owen Kline at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Jennifer Jason Leigh and Noah Baumbach at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Noah Baumbach at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Owen Kline at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    William Baldwin at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Jesse Eisenberg at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Noah Baumbach at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)
    Noah Baumbach at an event for The Squid and the Whale (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Owen Kline
    Owen Kline
    • Frank Berkmanas Frank Berkman
    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Bernard Berkmanas Bernard Berkman
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Joan Berkmanas Joan Berkman
    Jesse Eisenberg
    Jesse Eisenberg
    • Walt Berkmanas Walt Berkman
    William Baldwin
    William Baldwin
    • Ivanas Ivan
    David Benger
    David Benger
    • Carlas Carl
    Anna Paquin
    Anna Paquin
    • Lilias Lili
    Molly Barton
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Bo Berkman
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Matthew Kaplan
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Simon Kaplan
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Matthew Kirsch
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Daniella Markowicz
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Elizabeth Meriwether
    Elizabeth Meriwether
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Ben Schrank
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Amy Srebnick
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Josh Srebnick
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    Emma Straub
    • Graduate Studentas Graduate Student
    • Director
      • Noah Baumbach
    • Writer
      • Noah Baumbach
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • divorce
    • adultery
    • writer
    • joint custody
    • infidelity
    • 203 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Joint Custody Blows.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic dialogue and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the movie is heavily autobiographical, director and writer Noah Baumbach said he never pretended to have written "Hey You" by Pink Floyd for a school contest. In reality, a friend of his did it with a song by The Who. Baumbach borrowed the story because it felt so much like something that could've come from his childhood.
    • Goofs
      When the Berkmans are speaking to Walt's teacher about his plagiarism of the song "Hey You" by Pink Floyd during his performance during the talent show, there is a poster behind the teacher promoting reading featuring the WWE wrestler Hurricane (Shane Helms) who made his WWE debut in 2001. He was only 12 in 1986.
    • Quotes

      Bernard Berkman: What is it about high school, you read all the worst books by good writers.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Hey You
      Written by Roger Waters

      Performed by Pink Floyd

      Courtesy of EMI Records

      Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

    User reviews289

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    depressingly refreshing
    More acutely than I've experienced in a long time, this film captures the process of personality inheritance within families. The interaction/influence between Bernard and Walt is almost painful to watch at times, but it's completely rich. Beyond just that father/son dynamic, the story is so poignant without ever getting sappy - a true accomplishment for a family drama involving divorce. Nothing hits you over the head. Nothing seems too forced. While there's plenty of confusion, discomfort, and alienation, a sense of love shines through, and I couldn't help but get attached to all of the characters. I recommend this film unconditionally.
    helpful•92
    30
    • gdsoul
    • Nov 8, 2005

    FAQ2

    • What is it that Frank coughs up after getting drunk?
    • What is the picture that Frank masturbates to?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mürekkep Balığı ve Balina
    • Filming locations
      • Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Samuel Goldwyn Films
      • Sony Pictures International
      • Destination Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,372,734
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $129,844
      • Oct 9, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,098,131
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Jeff Daniels to Lead Regina King, David E. Kelley Netflix Series ‘A Man in Full’
    May 2Variety Film + TV
    ‘Ozark’s Laura Linney Makes Directorial Debut On Episode Late In Final Season
    ‘Ozark’s Laura Linney Makes Directorial Debut On Episode Late In Final Season
    Mar 31Deadline Film + TV

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