FREE ON CINEGEEK.DE What's Eating Gilbert Grape

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The world of Gilbert Grape in Iowa is small but full of excitement. His brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) always finds a way to climb the water tower without coming down again. Gilbert's obese mother spends every day on her sofa. His boss, who runs a small grocery store, suffers from competition from a supermarket. All these emergencies put together, this is Gilbert's life. In a big city, the Grape family would probably not work, but in a small town, where everyone knows everyone, it does. It is Gilbert's greatest help that he lives where he fits best: In the small town. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a film about outsiders. Not the kind of outsiders who see themselves as such, but real ones. The secret is not to look at them with tragic seriousness. Sure, it's a problem when you have a handicapped brother like Gilbert. It is also difficult to have a mother who never leaves home because she weighs 500 pounds. Gilbert even helps the neighbor's children to take a look at her! For Lasse Hallström such dysfunctional families probably have a special attraction. That's why the movie's peculiarity isn't the fact that it's quite strange, but how warm-heartedly everything is viewed! Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape gives the event a friendliness, even a grace! He was already used to playing eccentrics at this early stage of his career, and that's why they don't seem to be anything out of the ordinary for Gilbert. Johnny Depp as Gilbert seems convincing and easy to like. Finally a young woman, Becky (Juliette Lewis), appears in her grandmother's RV. She is on her way through and remains just long enough for a romance to develop between her and Gilbert. This love acts as a catalyst for the Grape family and breaks open patterns that probably would have lasted a lifetime. The best moments are when the film looks at the handicapped brother and the fat mother with sympathy, not pity. Becky looks at both of them in the same way, and that seems natural to her. At the same time DiCaprio seems difficult, almost annoying, but also priceless. Darlene Cates as mother is extraordinarily present, we see in her all the disappointments of life, but also the ability for a new start. Basically, Gilbert Grape simply shows the daily life. A film that observes closely, so that we slowly get to know the characters. So precise that we can even find out something about ourselves! Hallström's direction combines all these aspects with moments of comedy, romance, but also melodrama. If you're still wondering what Gilbert Grape is actually about - that's it!