Since every divorce or separation is unique and comes with guaranteed conflict, it is a natural theme for drama. Also, given the fact that over half the marriages in the United States end in divorce, it is a topic that almost everyone has had some experience with.<br /><br />While "The Squid and the Whale" is not up to the quality of "Scenes from a Marriage" or "Kramer vs. Kramer" it is solidly crafted and exposes enough raw nerves that I was not left wanting more details. It will probably bring up a lot of bad memories for a lot of people.<br /><br />In this movie we have a family of four with the parents, Bernard and Joan (Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney), being writers with Joan's career on the ascent and Bernard's on the decline. There are two boys, aged about sixteen and twelve. Being literary types, Bernard and Joan are well equipped to fight and manipulate with words. Initially the boys take sides, but things get complicated as time goes by. Under stress people frequently reveal unknown or unexpected personality traits and in the course of "The Squid and the Whale" all the family members learn a lot new about each other.<br /><br />The thing I liked most about "The Squid and the Whale" is that we get to witness the family dynamics play out from the perspective of each of the four participants.<br /><br />The final scene is near perfect as the older son comes to a new understanding of what is happening to his family through the metaphor of the squid and the whale exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan.