The Squid and the Whale (2005)

In the eclectic urban tapestry of mid-1980s Brooklyn, the Berkman family, a liberal-minded ensemble of thinkers, find themselves torn at the seams. The household is led by the charismatic yet profoundly flawed Bernard, a once acclaimed writer now reduced to an English professor, and Joan, a writer who found her voice after marriage and has since eclipsed her husband's dwindling fame. The tension between past glory and emerging success, coupled with Joan's past indiscretions, fuels a simmering discord that eventually ignites their seventeen-year marriage. Their inevitable separation leaves their two sons - the astute yet impressionable Walt, and the young adolescent Frank - adrift in the tumultuous sea of change. As Bernard relocates five subway stops away, the boys are tossed between two equally flawed parental figures. Walt, who mirrors his father's intellectual arrogance, chooses to side with Bernard, while Frank, exploring his burgeoning sexuality in a way only an adolescent can, finds solace with Joan. The aftermath of this familial schism sees Walt and Frank grappling with their emerging identities amidst the chaos of their parents' separation. Walt, much like his father, struggles with an inflated ego, plagiarizing material he believes he could've written and dismisses his girlfriend Sophie, convinced he can do better. Frank, on the other hand, leaves traces of his sexual awakening in public spaces, a reckless act of rebellion. Meanwhile, Bernard and Joan, unshackled from their strained marriage, embark on new relationships. Bernard finds solace in the arms of his student, Lili, while Joan embarks on a romantic liaison with Frank's tennis coach, Ivan. As the Berkmans navigate through the tempest of their altered lives, each member is compelled to reconcile with the reality of their new circumstances - a journey that tests their bonds, beliefs and the very definition of family.

The Squid and the Whale is a comedy movie featuring Jeff Daniels.

The Squid and the Whale is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, Hoopla, Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads and Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel .

It is also possible to buy The Squid and the Whale on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.