“The Squid and the Whale” is not about undersea creatures, nor is it a children’s film – it is a searing, stylized and unapologetic look at the dynamic of a family in turmoil.
Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson, the movie observes a family’s struggles as a mother (Laura Linney) and father (Jeff Daniels) separate in the mid-’80s after 17 years of marriage and two children.
Each family member copes differently to the abrupt and painful changes that come with the parents’ separation. The behavior of the couple’s two sons is often painful to watch, especially that of the youngest son. He deals with his pain by masturbating at school and wiping his semen on public surfaces.
The child actor in this role is amazing, as his portrayal is disturbing in its graphic nature. These stunningly gross scenes are integral to the film’s only clear message about divorce and its psychological consequences on children.
The oldest son initially hates his mother for instigating the separation through adulterous affairs with other men. Later, he adopts his father’s misogynistic viewpoints on women and life – with mixed results.
“The Squid and the Whale” documents each character’s struggles and growth before it concludes ambiguously, with the oldest son reevaluating his relationships with both parents and facing an uncertain future.
The film is not perfect, as its approach toward its characters is often unflinchingly unforgiving to the point of alienating the viewer.
The filmmaker attempts to analyze a dysfunctional family through direct and politically incorrect dialogue. Anderson employed this technique in lighter fair like “The Life Aquatic” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” In this more serious film, the technique sometimes falls flat, as it can seem contrived, forced or overly cold.
The film’s ambiguous ending leads the viewer to wonder what the point of this film is and what hope it suggests exists for children of divorce.
Is the film saying parents should stay together for the sake of the child? Should couples warily approach marriage and children if they suspect the possibility of divorce? If things simply do not work out between two parents, is divorce socially and morally acceptable?
The viewer sees the repercussions of divorce without any clear solutions suggested. While some hazy social critiques exist – such as a critique of the selfish nature of divorcing couples – one finds it difficult to render any hope from the situation as it is presented.
Although the acting is superb, and the plot is thought-provoking in addressing an issue in our society affecting more and more families every day, “The Squid and the Whale” misses hitting the mark perfectly because it is unable to establish closure for its characters or the viewer.
Grade: B