The Squid and the Whale (2005) - 77%
A vaguely twee illustration of the trials and tribulations of adolescence, set in and amongst the divorce of two warring parents. When writer Bernard (Jeff Daniels, Dumb and Dumber. Yeah, I said it) separates from his now more successful writer wife Joan (Lauren Linney, Truman Show), the relationship between them and their two sons becomes all the more fractious and unpredictable. A well observed and semi-autobiographical portrayal of the back-biting and one-up-manship inherent in any acrimonious divorce, but tinged with the fanciful quirkiness you would expect from a film produced by Wes Anderson. Expect excellent dialogue and a superbly melodic 60’s soundtrack.
When my own parents divorced, I was lucky and young enough for a relatively painless separation. Walt (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network) and Frank however, are less fortunate. Thrust into a tug-of-war between two parents who not only feel a great deal of resentment towards one another: one is a patriarchal and frustrated figure, the other an unfaithful sufferer; but also have their own clear favourite son, the boys must simultaneously combat against their own bodies. Frank is just entering the throes of puberty and expresses himself as such in a way perhaps not wholly accepted by society. Walt on the other hand is just finding his feet with the ladies, and following some iffy advice from his father (as per usual), ends up making some questionable decisions.
Packed with deceit and fraught with tension, The Squid and The Whale is one of those films to which many can relate, even if it’s only in one or two aspects. It’s clearly a very personal project for writer Noah Baumbach, and this comes across in the picture, with sympathetic portrayals of both parents - despite an unflinching examination of their flaws. Although I would recommend this film universally, I think it most applicable to those who have at some point had to go through the ordeal of being made the messenger between two parents no longer in love. One will attempt to save face while off-handedly insulting the other, all the while unaware that this is painstakingly obvious to their child. This film is for anybody who has been that child and has, at one point or another, had to make that point clear to parents who could not see past their own squabbles at the damage being done.
77%
