‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape‘ (1993) is one of the best-known feature films of the Swedish director Lasse Hallström, whose launching pad to international fame was built of the music videos of ABBA’s hit songs. Today it has also become a kind of unavoidable reference point in the film careers of Johnny Depp and especially of Leonardo DiCaprio, who at the age of 19 obtained the first Oscar nomination (for a supporting role) in his career with his role in this film. Besides them, we can watch here some talented actors and actresses from the younger generation of that time. However, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape‘ has ambitions higher than those of an actor’s film. The story – which is based on a novel by Peter Hedges (who also wrote the screenplay) – gathers unfortunate destinies and takes place in a hopeless corner of America, and yet manages to convey an optimistic message. From this point of view, it seems to me to be a prelude to ‘Chocolat’, my favorite film from Lasse Hallström‘s filmography so far.
The setting in which the action takes place is an imaginary but typical American small town. In Endora, with a population of just over 1,000, nothing ever happens. A road passes through the locality which is the route of the tourist caravans that go to the national parks in the summer, and their passage is one of the important events of the year. Here, in the house built by the father of the family, who committed suicide 17 years before, live the Grapes. At 20+ years old, Gilbert is the main breadwinner of the family. His mother, fallen into depression and bulimia, does not move from the ground floor of the house and especially from the sofa in front of the TV. Two sisters, good and nice girls, help as they can and face the challenges of age. The family’s problem is younger brother Arnie, who is mentally retarded and needs near-constant supervision. Gilbert works at a small local supermarket, whose existence is threatened by the opening of a large chain store on the highway. Life happens somehow, in a fragile balance. The appearance of a young woman traveling with her grandmother in a caravan that breaks down near Endora, threatens to disturb the order of things. Arnie’s 18th birthday celebration is also coming up. The small town where nothing happens will witness some unusual events.
Screenwriter Peter Hedges and director Lasse Hallström manage to maneuver with difficult material, especially using elements of melodrama. The theme of the sweltering atmosphere of small towns in central America is classic in American drama, literature and cinema. Arnie’s character is not completely new either, if we think of ‘Of Mice and Men’ or ‘Rain Man’. Instead, the character of the mother, with her troubles, taking refuge in overweight, introduced a new typology at that time (as far as I know). The two very young actors were formidable in this film. Even today, when we know how their careers have evolved since then, we can appreciate that the roles in this film are among the best of two respective stellar careers. Johnny Depp plays one of his less evil roles and we can only imagine what path would his career have turned out if he had continued in this direction. About Leonardo DiCaprio, what can I write? Something interesting happens to me with him. I don’t like almost any of the characters he plays, and yet I admire every role he does. This is also the case here, where he plays, I think, his first big role. Also appearing in the film is John C. Reilly, another actor I admire, who was also at the beginning of his career at the time, and several actresses with roles that are smaller but very important in the dynamics of the story. The screenplay can be blamed for solving the problems of the painful coming of age of the heroes and all the conflicts that seemed insurmountable a little too easily and too well , but the quality of the performances raises ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape‘ above the average that allows forgetting and is a good enough reason (but not the only one) to be watched by those who haven’t seen it yet.