The Squid And The Whale

The Squid and the Whale is a painfully accurate film by Noah Baumbach about a family going through a divorce in the mid-80's. I don't use the word dysfunctional to describe the family because this family is as real as it gets. If you have been through a divorce as a child or as a parent this film will ring true to you on many levels. You will get the perspective of everyone in the family no matter how disturbing it may be to you. If you are from a divorced family this film will make you cry. You will be reminded of things that your mind has let you forget or suppress for years. Noah Baumbach captures the situation with such detail that I found myself constantly amazed at the details he was able to bring to fruition. The custody battle of switching homes on specific days of the week is right, the father cooking horrible meals is correct, the mother being responsible to pay for sports and winter coats is correct, even the way the children choose to ally with their parents is perfectly portrayed.
I find myself feeling like one of the divorced elite while viewing this movie and I get angry at people from "normal" homes that love this movie. I think, "fuck you, I lived this, what right do you have loving my misery". I may be totally off by believing this but those of you from "normal" homes have to understand that this is not a satire, it isn't a parody, it is completely true. I commend Baumbach for making this film and helping people like myself realize that my experience was not completely unique. If you are from a "broken home" watch this movie and be hurt by the little things that Baumbach nails with perfection. If you are from a "normal" family watch this and realize that this film is not fiction but a harsh reality that half of the United States experiences.