Eating Gilbert Grape is a coming-of-age drama film released in 1993, starring Johnny Depp as Gilbert, a young man who is struggling to care for his mentally impaired younger brother Arnie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his morbidly obese mother, Bonnie, played by Darlene Cates. The film explores themes of responsibility, family, and the impact of mental illness on individuals and their loved ones.
In the film, Gilbert is the primary caregiver for his brother and mother, both of whom require a significant amount of physical and emotional support. His mother is unable to leave the house due to her size and is largely confined to her bedroom, while his brother has a limited mental capacity and requires constant supervision. Gilbert's responsibilities at home leave little time for him to pursue his own dreams and ambitions, causing him to feel trapped and resentful.
As the film progresses, Gilbert begins to form a relationship with a young woman named Becky, played by Juliette Lewis, who brings a sense of joy and possibility into his life. However, Gilbert's responsibilities to his family continue to weigh heavily on him, leading to tension and conflict within the household.
Through his relationship with Becky and his interactions with his family, Gilbert learns to confront his own feelings of anger and resentment and to find a way to balance his own needs with his responsibilities to his loved ones. He ultimately learns to accept and embrace his role as a caregiver, finding meaning and fulfillment in the process.
Eating Gilbert Grape is a powerful and poignant exploration of the challenges and triumphs of caring for loved ones with special needs. It is a film that speaks to the universal human experience of struggling to find one's place in the world and to the enduring strength of family bonds.
Essay about What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Grape committed suicide being not able to cope with stress and tension. The Grape family lives in an isolated town of Endora in a house that seems to be in shambles since their father died. To Gilbert, the way people perceived his family was very important. By the end of the movie, he has grown into a stronger, more self-aware individual who is ready to take on the challenges of life head-on. He defends her mother from the mockery of outsiders, even after her death, when he chooses to cremate her in the family house rather than ridicule the family while they remove her body from the house. While genes can be a positive effect on our development, enabling us to become strong, tall people, it can also have negative effects. The fact that he was trapped in the mess never made him sympathize with himself instead he endeavored to make situations better than before.
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" Movie
Arnie, the younger son, has some severe mental disease that deprives him of an opportunity to live as a common person and transforms him into a great burden for the whole family. However, over time, Gilbert starts to change his mind. He often does not produce his own speech; he scripts what he hears others say. The film revolves around the experiences of the narrator, Gilbert. What George refers to in this quote is what is known today as an intellectual and developmental disability IDD. At the moment, she does not have her own family. Amy spends most of her time at home; however, she also can maintain friendships.
Essay on Movie Commentary: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Becky's and her grandmother's forced visit to Endora gives Gilbert and his family a chance to be noticed and recognized by previously unknown people. Additionally, the ethical code was considered. Though the relationship did not go far out of Gilbert getting upset with her demands and her behavior, he did not get discouraged. The second, however, does not go as smoothly. In defense of his ego, and looking for console, Gilbert fell into the trap of being in an affair with a house wife Betty. Interpersonal and Social Relationships of Family All family members try to support each other.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape Analysis Essay Example
To further protect his ego, he had always wished he would one day get out of the family failures that life had on him, when he got the right person: somebody who could reason with him and challenge him out of his deep thoughts of regret, he left the town together with his beloved brother. Nowadays, they manage to solve some by collaborative practices. Gilbert Grape is a film about a young man who is struggling to take care of his family and himself. Amy and Ellen were working to take care of their family needs. To come out of the situation, he got into a love relationship with a married woman who he broke up with and there after he dated Becky who he was compatible with.
