, 1h21 Directed byNoah Baumbach OriginUSA GenresDrama, Comedy, Comedy-drama ThemesFilms about writers, Films about education, Films about families ActorsJeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, William Baldwin, Owen Kline, Anna Paquin Rating72% Bernard Berkman (Jeff Daniels) is an arrogant, once-promising novelist whose career has gone into a slow decline as he spends more time teaching and less time writing. His wife, Joan (Laura Linney), has recently begun publishing her own work to widespread acclaim, which only increases the growing tension between them. One day, Bernard and Joan tell their two sons, 16-year-old Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and 12-year-old Frank (Owen Kline), that they are separating, with Bernard renting a house on the other side of Prospect Park from their home in Park Slope, Brooklyn.