The Squid and The Whale, a tragicomedy, depicts a fracturing family and the reactions of the two sons to their parents’ separation and impending divorce. The squid and the whale reference comes from a monumental diorama of a struggle between a gigantic squid and a whale at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. (Note: I didn’t see a picture of the diorama on the museum’s website. Just letting you know if you click on it thinking that the image would be there.)

The fight depicted between the two creatures is as monumental as the parents’ conflict is in the minds of the sons. Each of the confused frightened and distraught boys responds to the parents’ failing relationship and subsequent decisions in bizarre ways. Based on writer/director Noah Baumbach’s memories of his parents separation and divorce when he was a boy of 16.

A synopsis on Ritz Filmbill
Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award as well as the best Dramatic Directing Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
The Snicks’ rating for this movie is five stars.