The Squid and the Whale

Joint custody blows.

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 1980s.

Comedy Drama

Jesse Eisenberg

(Walt Berkman)

Jeff Daniels

(Bernard Berkman)

Owen Kline

(Frank Berkman)

Laura Linney

(Joan Berkman)

Halley Feiffer

(Sophie Greenberg)

Anna Paquin

(Lili)

William Baldwin

(Ivan)

David Benger

(Carl)

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)

James Hamilton

(Man with Joan)

Adam Rose

(Otto)

Henry Glovinsky

(Lance)

Eli Gelb

(Jeffrey)

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)

Jonathan Baumbach

(Man Outside Ms. Lemon's Office (uncredited))

Andrew Kaempfer

(Valet (uncredited))

Britta Phillips

(Talent Show Audience Member (uncredited))

Bobby Shue

(Student (uncredited))

Dean Wareham

(Talent Show Audience Member (uncredited))