Director
Lasse Hallstrom
Leading Actors/Actresses
Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover
Genre
Drama
Language
English
Awards
Nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Leonardo DiCaprio
Date of Release
1993
Producer
David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson, Meir Teper
Setting and Context
A fictional small town in Iowa, called Endora.
Narrator and Point of View
Gilbert Grape is the narrator of the story. His family's tale is told from his point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is both somber and dramatic. The film takes on a cinéma vérité aesthetic, which makes it particularly realistic for the viewers.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The story's protagonist is Gilbert. Though there is no definite antagonist, we can say that Gilbert is battling with his family's circumstances (particularly his mother's obesity, his father's suicide, his younger brother's mental illness, and his home's crumbling infrastructure).
Major Conflict
Gilbert becomes interested in Becky, a girl who stops in Endora after her camper breaks down. As Gilbert passes time with and opens up to Becky, he pulls away from his family and the responsibilities they have placed on him. This causes tension within the Grape family.
Climax
The climax of the story is when Gilbert strikes Arnie across the face for refusing to bathe himself. Following this violent act, Gilbert runs away from home, ashamed of his behavior.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is evident in Gilbert's discussion with Bobby and Tucker at the diner. Over their meal, Bobby explains that they make fun of the grotesque bodies that enter the morgue. This comment bothers Gilbert and undoubtedly influences his decision to cremate Bonnie rather than carry her body out "by crane" for a traditional funeral service.
Understatement
Gilbert's father's suicide is an understated element of the story that undoubtedly influences the family and their legacy.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Hallström's cinéma vérité style greatly influenced the portrayal of the family in American cinema.
Allusions
The way in which Gilbert carries Arnie on his back alludes to the religious iconography of St. Christopher. Additionally, the motif of ascension alludes to an ascent to heaven. This is evident when Arnie scales both his tree and the town's water tower, and when Bonnie climbs her stairs before passing away.
Paradox
Bonnie, as the children's mother, is supposed to care for her family. However, her children assume the role of caretakers.
Parallelism
The ending of the film with Becky's arrival parallels the opening where Gilbert and Arnie are waiting for the caravans to pass through town.
