What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
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A grocery store clerk in a small Iowa town struggles to care for his dysfunctional family and his mentally disabled brother.
The story
In the small town of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert Grape works at a local grocery store while caring for his dysfunctional family. His responsibilities include looking after his obese mother, Bonnie, and his mentally disabled younger brother, Arnie, who is approaching his 18th birthday. The family's stability is threatened by the opening of a nearby supermarket and Gilbert's personal complications, including an affair with a married woman. When a traveler's vehicle breaks down nearby, Gilbert meets a woman named Becky. The story follows the escalating tensions within the family as they navigate their daily struggles and the challenges posed by Arnie's condition and the changing local economy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the small town of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert Grape cares for his mentally disabled brother Arnie and their obese mother, Bonnie. While Gilbert works at a local grocery store threatened by a new supermarket, he begins a romance with a traveler named Becky. However, his distractions lead to Arnie developing a fear of water after being left alone in a bath. As Arnie's 18th birthday approaches, his behavior worsens, leading to a physical confrontation between the brothers. After Arnie is rescued from a water tower, Becky helps him overcome his phobia and convinces Gilbert to reconcile with his family. Following a tense birthday celebration, Bonnie dies in her sleep. To avoid a public spectacle, Gilbert sets the house on fire to create a funeral pyre. A year later, Gilbert and Arnie are seen together, ready to move on to their next chapter.
- First release year
- 1993
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lasse Hallström
- Writers
- Peter Hedges · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Johnny Depp · Gilbert Grape; Juliette Lewis · Becky; Mary Steenburgen · Bonnie; Leonardo DiCaprio · Arnie; John C. Reilly · Larry
- Genres
- coming-of-age; drama
- Themes
- family dynamics; disability; grief; coming-of-age
- Tone and mood
- tender; somber
- Premise and plot tags
- small-town life; caregiving; sibling bond
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1991 novel
- Reception
- The film was well received, with critical acclaim for the performances of Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. It was noted for its tender atmosphere despite being a box-office disappointment.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · review count: 51; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.40 · scale: 10 · review count: 51; Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor in a Supporting Role · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor in a Supporting Role · nomination
- Production trivia
- Corey Feldman claimed he was initially cast as Arnie.; Christian Bale was up for the part of Arnie.; The film was shot in various parts of Texas.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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