What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Lasse Hallström, USA, 1993, 118 minutes

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is set in the sleepy town of Endora, and it is here we meet Johnny Depp’s Gilbert Grape, a man who appears to be living out an almost claustrophobic existence. Grape lives with his family, including his morbidly obese mother, who, after the death of her husband some 17 years earlier, has all but given up on life. She spends her days lazing on the couch watching television, and a rare trip into the outside world results in a great deal of humiliation on her part, courtesy of the local townspeople. In addition to caring for his mother, Grape is also the primary care-giver for his mentally handicapped brother Arnie, a role skilfully portrayed by a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

The film introduces to us a young man who appears to be positively trapped by his circumstances, and as the story unfolds a gradual change is seen in Grape. This change is catalysed by the introduction of Becky (Juliette Lewis), a young girl who becomes stranded in Endora when her car breaks down.

The film focuses on the events leading up to Arnie’s 18th birthday, with Grape’s frustration finally reaching a crescendo, and this anger is ultimately directed towards his unsuspecting brother.

The real star of the film is undoubtedly DiCaprio, who delivers a truly remarkable performance, for which he was nominated an Academy Award. Above all, the film is understated and almost awkward in places, but this only contributes to its appeal, resulting in a truly touching movie.

Review by Gemma Riddler
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2009