The Squid and the Whale

Noah Baumbach, USA, 2005, 81 minutes

The Squid and the Whale sounds like the costume ideas that Fathers for Justice rejected, but it serves as a metaphor for the lumbering conflict inflicted upon Walt and Frank as their parent's marriage breaks. And though originally a straight comedy the acting and direction during shooting added depth and genuine emotion resulting in a truly great little film.

Dismissing this film as another divorce/tug-of-love melodrama would cheat you of a hugely enjoyable film. No character is entirely innocent and all of them are making mistakes. Brilliant moments of wit and observation (think Caroline Ahern's Royale Family) help throw into relief the more emotional moments with humour and pathos happening often simultaneously.

The story is told form the child's perspective with the effects of the divorce on the parents playing out indirectly and in the background. Jesse Eisenberg (Walt) and Owen Kline (Frank) brilliantly portray the damage being wrought on their characters as the two sons face their parents faults. Walt is his father's son, and is blind to his father's conceited and brings out only the worst in his mother. However, in idolising his father Walt only ends up emulating him as Walt acts like an ass around his first girlfriend.

Frank is the youngest son and he has the hardest time dealing with the divorce experimenting with drink and himself. In sympathising with his mother and refusing to seek his fathers narrow approval Frank find himself as overlooked s the family cat.

The high quality acting from the entire cast is a joy to see, hell, even a lesser Baldwin brother does a great job. Jeff Daniels (Bernard) delivers a career high as he imbues the Father enough ingenuousness so that you - as with Walt - want to reach out to Bernard despite him being an ass. Laura Linney (Joan) is as ever excellent and here manages to keep the mother sympathetic as Joan justifiably favours herself in her choices rather than continuing as everyone's skivvy.

Noah Baumbach has been writing and directing his own indie comedy films since the mid-nighties, but thanks to the amount of critical acclaim and awards 'The Squid and the Whale' was saved from similar obscurity. Don't miss what would be one of your Top 5 films of the year or you can - as young Frank says - "Suck my dick, ass man...".

Review by Breandan Goodall
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2006