The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Director:

Noah Baumbach

Writer (WGA):

Noah Baumbach (written by)

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (Turkey)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Joint Custody Blows.

Plot:

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980's.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Book | Tennis | Boy | Tennis Coach

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Owen Kline	...	Frank Berkman
Jeff Daniels	...	Bernard Berkman
Laura Linney	...	Joan Berkman
Jesse Eisenberg	...	Walt Berkman
William Baldwin	...	Ivan
David Benger	...	Carl
Anna Paquin	...	Lili
Molly Barton	...	Graduate Student
Bo Berkman	...	Graduate Student
Matthew Kaplan	...	Graduate Student
Simon Kaplan	...	Graduate Student
Matthew Kirsch	...	Graduate Student
Daniella Markowicz	...	Graduate Student
Elizabeth Meriwether	...	Graduate Student
Ben Schrank	...	Graduate Student
Amy Srebnick	...	Graduate Student
Josh Srebnick	...	Graduate Student
Emma Straub	...	Graduate Student
Alan Wilkis	...	Graduate Student (as Alan Wilks)
James Hamilton	...	Man with Joan
Adam Rose	...	Otto
Henry Glovinsky	...	Lance
Eli Gelb	...	Jeffrey
Halley Feiffer	...	Sophie Greenberg
Wayne Lawson	...	Talent Show Judge
Michael Santiago	...	Talent Show Judge
Juan Torriente	...	Talent Show Judge
Patricia Towers	...	Talent Show Judge
Peggy Gormley	...	Mrs. Greenberg
Peter Newman	...	Mr. Greenberg
Greta Kline	...	Greta Greenberg
Melissa Meyer	...	Professor
Benjamin Smolen	...	Student with Puppets
Michael Countryman	...	Mr. Simic
Alexandra Daddario	...	Pretty Girl
Nico Baumbach	...	Jeb Gelber
Maryann Plunkett	...	Ms. Lemon
Hector Otero	...	Hector
Ken Leung	...	School Therapist
Jo Yang	...	Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joyce DeWitt	...	Janet Wood (archive footage)

Directed by
Noah Baumbach

Writing credits (WGA)
Noah Baumbach		(written by)

Produced by
Wes Anderson	....	producer
Reverge Anselmo	....	executive producer
Miranda Bailey	....	executive producer
Charlie Corwin	....	producer
Greg Johnson	....	executive producer
Andrew Lauren	....	executive producer
Clara Markowicz	....	producer
Peter Newman	....	producer
Jennifer Roth	....	co-producer (as Jennifer M. Roth)

Original Music by
Britta Phillips
Dean Wareham

Cinematography by
Robert D. Yeoman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tim Streeto

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Anne Ross

Art Direction by
Jennifer Dehghan

Set Decoration by
Robert Covelman

Costume Design by
Amy Westcott

Makeup Department
Lori Guidroz	....	key hair stylist
Maya Hardinge	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Hans Graffunder	....	unit production manager
Joe Hobeck	....	additional post-production supervisor
Christopher Kenneally	....	post-production supervisor (as Chris Kenneally)
Jennifer Roth	....	unit production manager (as Jennifer M. Roth)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David 'Wex' Wechsler	....	first assistant director (as David Wechsler)
Adam T. Weisinger	....	second second assistant director
Eric Yellin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Costanza Theodoli Braschi	....	art department assistant
Jason Bruno	....	art department assistant
Jeff Butcher	....	property master
Barker Gerard	....	art department assistant
Nancy Griffith	....	first assistant props
Madeline O. Hartling	....	camera scenic (as Madeline Hartling)
Julie Ho	....	art department assistant
Richard Laurenzi	....	camera scenic
Lars Lindahl	....	art department assistant (as Lars Lindhal)
Laura Ng	....	art department assistant
Michael Raisler	....	art department assistant (as Mike Raisler)
James Sherman	....	on-set dresser
Charley Siegel	....	art department assistant (as Charles Siegel)
Susan Tatom	....	lead person
David Wexler	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
Allan Byer	....	sound mixer
Rachel Chancey	....	foley editor
Rachel Chancey	....	foley recordist
Mark Filip	....	sound effects editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Julia Shirar	....	dialogue editor
Derek Somaru	....	post-production sound intern
Alfredo Viteri	....	boom operator
Damian Volpe	....	adr recordist
Damian Volpe	....	foley recordist

Visual Effects by
Markus Janner	....	digital opticals: Duart Digital
Jennifer Russomanno	....	digital opticals: Duart Digital
Keith Yurevitz	....	digital opticals: Duart Digital

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Andres	....	grip
Evelina Andres	....	grip
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip (as Bob Andres)
Alison Barton	....	best boy grip (as Allison Barton)
Nico Baumbach	....	videographer
Nils Benson	....	camera operator
Lamont Crawford	....	grip
George Elias	....	grip
Lisa Marie Gleeson	....	electrician
James Hamilton	....	still photographer
Chris Hayes	....	electrician
Bernard James	....	electrician
Jendra Jarnagin	....	additional electrician
Hardwick Johnson	....	special thanks: Camera Service Center
Keith Kalohelani	....	electrician
Scott Kincaid	....	electrician
Doug Kofsky	....	second assistant camera
Taylor Levy	....	camera production assistant
Scott Maher	....	electrician
Simeon Moore	....	electrician
Beth O'Brien	....	electrician
Storn Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Nate Ranger	....	assistant camera
Gay E. Riedel	....	electrician (as Gay Riedel)
Dave Rudolph	....	electrician
John Schwartz	....	best boy electric
Douglas W. Shannon	....	gaffer
Steve Speers	....	second assistant camera (as Stephen Speers)
Charlie Tammaro	....	special thanks: Camera Service Center
Irapaul Turner	....	grip (as Ira Paul Turner)

Casting Department
Gimardi Cueto	....	extras casting associate
Stephanie Holbrook	....	casting associate
Ulysses Terrero	....	extras casting: T & T Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mei Lai Hippisley Coxe	....	set costumer
Karen Malecki	....	assistant costume designer (as Karen Waiton)
Lisa Marzolf	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Perri B. Frank	....	assistant editor
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
David Pultz	....	color timer

Music Department
Jim Dunbar	....	music coordinator
Diego Garrido	....	score mixer
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearance
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Daniel Srebnick	....	composer: additional music (as Daniel Antonio Srebnick)

Transportation Department
Jason Buim	....	driver: camera/sound truck
Kevin Flynn	....	transportation captain
Jim Kelly	....	driver: grip and electric truck
Louis Lapat	....	driver: prop truck

Other crew
Michael Altman	....	set production assistant
Donna L. Bascom	....	production counsel (as Donna Bascom, Esq.)
Daniel Beers	....	assistant: American Empirical
Richard Bever	....	assistant: Andrew Lauren (as Richard Beaver)
Stacy Bissell	....	location assistant
Sandra Chwialkowska	....	set production assistant
Erich Eilenberger	....	set production assistant
Massoumeh Emami	....	script supervisor
Walter Foote	....	financial counsel: Foote And Associates (as Walter Foote, Esq.)
Michael Fucci	....	location manager
Felix Grisebach	....	set production assistant
Chelsea Horenstein	....	assistant: Peter Newman
Markus Janner	....	titles: Duart Digital
Todd Judson	....	assistant production coordinator
Sophie Kaplan	....	office production assistant
Gabriel Koplowitz	....	set production assistant
Steve Kornacki	....	production coordinator
Keith Krinsky	....	assistant location manager
Lacey Leavitt	....	assistant to producers
Thomas K. Lee	....	key set production assistant (as Tom Lee)
Martin Leicht	....	set production assistant
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service
Cecilia Morelli	....	set production assistant
Alison Norod	....	set production assistant (as Ali Norod)
Lillian Parker	....	assistant: American Empirical
Alyson Perlongo	....	assistant: Original Media
Jill K. Perno	....	production assistant
Angel Pina	....	catering assistant (as Angelo Pina)
Carla Pisarro	....	office production assistant
Oliver Refson	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Russomanno	....	titles: Duart Digital
Deidre Schrowang	....	post-production accountant
Deidre Schrowang	....	production accountant
Adam Shakinovsky	....	set production assistant
Leanne Shapton	....	title designer
Susan Soh	....	assistant: Mr. Baumbach
Jason Stant	....	first assistant accountant (as Jason R. Stant)
Rebecca Taber	....	set production assistant
Gerald Tonnegin	....	set production assistant
Anthony Torre	....	caterer
Keith Yurevitz	....	titles: Duart Digital

Thanks
Roger Arar	....	special thanks (as Roger Arar, Esq.)
Molly Barton	....	special thanks
Jonathan Baumbach	....	special thanks
Peter Bogdanovich	....	special thanks
Georgia Brown	....	special thanks
Michael Cary	....	special thanks
Phoebe Cates	....	special thanks
Sofia Coppola	....	special thanks
Patrick Costello	....	special thanks
Maureen Duffy	....	special thanks
Laura Durning	....	special thanks
John Fundus	....	special thanks
Kevin Ginty	....	special thanks
Annette Grant	....	special thanks
Robert Greenhut	....	special thanks
Bradley M. Gross	....	special thanks (as Brad Gross)
Mike Harrop	....	special thanks (as Michael Harrop)
Bonnie Hlinomaz	....	special thanks (as Bonnie Wells-Hlinomaz)
Kevin Kline	....	special thanks
Karen Lauder	....	special thanks
Phillis Lehmer	....	special thanks
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	special thanks
Howard Michaels	....	special thanks
John Quested	....	special thanks
Nick Quested	....	special thanks
Gunilla Ross	....	special thanks
Ben Schrank	....	special thanks
Phil Scotti	....	special thanks
Jeremy Scott	....	special thanks
Eric Shonz	....	special thanks
Sallie Slate	....	special thanks
Marion Spiegelman	....	special thanks
Tim Spitzer	....	special thanks
Fred Toczek	....	special thanks
Giovanni Tognozzi	....	special thanks: Bar Pitti (as Giovanni)
Barbara Turner	....	special thanks
Elizabeth Untiedt	....	special thanks
Thea Vokins	....	special thanks
Roger Waters	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Films (present)
• Sony Pictures International (present) (as Sony Pictures Releasing International)
• Destination Films (present)
• Original Media (presentation)
• Ambush Entertainment (presentation)
• Andrew Lauren Productions (ALP) (produced in association with) (as Andrew Lauren Productions)
• American Empirical Pictures (producer) (as American Empirical)
• Peter Newman Productions (producer) (as Peter Newman - Interal)
• InterAL (producer) (as Peter Newman - Interal)
• Seven Hills Pictures
• Squid and Whale Inc.

Distributors

• Barbar Film (2006) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Du Art Digital (digital opticals)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as Aon / Albert G. Ruben)
• Adidas  special thanks
• Bar Pitti  special thanks
• Brooklyn College  special thanks
• Burger King Corporation  used with permission of (BURGER KING drinking glasses and trademarks) (as Burger King Brands, Inc.)
• Camera Service Center  camera and lighting equipment
• City National Bank  production bank
• Claire's  special thanks
• Clarks  special thanks
• DLT Entertainment Ltd.  courtesy of: 'Three's Company'
• DLT Entertainment Ltd.  special thanks
• Digital Jungle  online editing
• Du Art Digital  titles and digital opticals (as Duart Digital)
• Du Art Film and Video  dailies telecine (as Duart Film And Video)
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Everlast Sporting Goods  special thanks (as Everlast)
• Fat Dot  publicity
• Fila  special thanks
• Film Finance  completion guarantor (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• Film Finance  special thanks (as Film Finances)
• Fire Department New York (FDNY)  special thanks (as F.D.N.Y. at Fort Totten)
• Foote & Associates  financial counsel (as Foote And Associates)
• Fossil  special thanks
• Frye Boots  special thanks (as Frye)
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  audio post services (as Goldcrest)
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  offline editorial facility (as Goldcrest)
• Gotham Sales  sales representation
• Gourmet To U  caterer
• Guess  special thanks
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• International Music Publications  courtesy of (sheet music permission)
• Jordache Jeans  special thanks (as Jordache)
• LeSportsac  special thanks (as Le Sport Sac)
• MGM Clip + Still  courtesy of: 'Blue Velvet'
• Midwood High School  special thanks
• Montauk Club, The  special thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks (as Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting)
• Nike  special thanks
• North Face, The  special thanks (as Northface)
• Ocean Pacific  special thanks (as O.P.)
• P.J. Clarke's  special thanks (as P.J. Clarke's Restaurant)
• Puma  special thanks
• Residents of Park Slope, Brooklyn, The  special thanks
• Rockport Shoes  special thanks (as Rockport)
• Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, The  special thanks
• Saucony  special thanks
• T & T Casting  extras casting
• The American Museum of Natural History  special thanks
• Todtri Book Publishers  special thanks
• Urban Outfitters  special thanks
• Warner Bros. Publications  courtesy of (sheet music permission) (as Warner Bros. Publications [US] Inc.)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic dialogue and language.

Runtime:

81 min | Canada:88 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:14 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:Btl | Germany:12 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Films

Trivia:

Jeff Daniels was scheduled to film The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004) (TV) when The Squid and the Whale (2005) was set to start production. The beard Jeff Daniels has in The Five People You Meet In Heaven is there only because he felt his character in The Squid and the Whale would have had a beard.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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:

[first lines]
Frank Berkman: Mom and me versus you and Dad.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Teens (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Holland Tunnel

Patricide with a dull knife

Noah Baumbach takes a loving (oh?) stab at his parents' divorce, brought on by the hilariously immature antics of his father, and my writing professor, the ever pompous Jonathan Baumbach (Jeff Daniels).

Brooklyn College was a hotbed of activism and liberal arts when I first encountered Jonathan Baumbach (rechristened "Bernard" in the film, a sly wink at Jonathan's mentor and hero, Bernard Malamud). The arrogance and complete lack of self awareness is perfectly captured by Daniels in his over-the-top performance which, amazingly, underplays the actual father.

To call the picture patricidal is to completely miss the point; Baumbach pere is so self centered, he likely sees the film as an homage. Baumbach Sr. is a great writer; he receives good reviews in the literary journals and his books sell in the hundreds. Baumbach Jr., on the other hand, is a great filmmaker, and his movies (The Life Aquatic) are seen by millions. I'm sure the father is disappointed that the son isn't pursuing tenure at a small Ohio college.

I saw this film in a cozy college theater at the Toronto Film Festival. I half expected to run into Jonathan Baumbach, in his leather patched tweed jacket, preening for the audience and eying the coeds.

Funny and poignant. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to choke the bastard.