“Squid and the Whale”
If you grew up in a divorced family or if you know someone who has, the term “Joint custody” may ring a bell if not spark some emotion. It is never as easy as it seems, none of it, divorce, custody, holidays or the relationships that come after. In the film, “The Squid and the Whale” the definition of divorce is captured by writer Noah Baumbach.
The Berkman’s are a Brooklyn family who faces the strains of divorce. The parents Bernard, (Jeff Daniels) and Joan, (Laura Linney) are both writers on the opposite ends of success. Bernard a once celebrated author finds himself teaching at Brooklyn College while his soon to be ex-wife Joan is becoming the center of attention. She picks up the spotlight and this makes Bernard jealous. After moments of infidelity and years of not getting along, the two decide to divorce.
The kids, Walt, (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank, (Owen Kline) ask them to stay together and react the way any kid who has been faced with divorce does. They ally with the parent they like the best. They take liberties whenever they see fit. They act out and they experiment for attention.
The parents try to gracefully move into the life after marriage stage by moving on to new relationships, which create love triangles that no one wants to admit to. After a failed attempt at a relationship with one of his grad students, coincidentally the same girl that his oldest son Walt has a huge crush on, Bernard attempts to salvage whatever may be left of the bits and pieces that could possibly be recognized as marriage. Joan rejects this notion as she finds herself happy with her success and her new much younger boyfriend.
The title “The Squid and the Whale” is not understood until the end of the film, but when it is presented to the audience, it makes perfect sense, especially if you are a kid who comes from divorce. Even though it seems as if nothing makes sense surrounding a divorce the most important things to remember are the good times that came before and after. “The Squid and the Whale” is the type of film that makes people laugh and cry about the ups and downs of family. Its characterizations of the family in the middle of divorce are dead on and refreshing.
- Story- A+
- Acting- A
- Visuals- A
- Originality/ Innovation- A
- Enjoyabilty- A
- Overall- A
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