Life is a terrible thing to sleep through.|Dec. 17, 1993|United States|118 Min.|TV-PG
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: **What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)**
**Plot Summary:**
In the quiet town of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) is burdened with the responsibility of caring for his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is about to turn 18. Their father committed suicide years ago, and their mother, Bonnie (Darlene Cates), has become morbidly obese, spending most of her days on the couch watching TV. With Bonnie unable to manage household duties, Gilbert takes charge of repairing their home and looking out for Arnie, who has a habit of climbing the town’s water tower and trees. Gilbert’s sisters, Amy (Laura Harrington) and Ellen (Mary Kate Schellhardt), handle the rest of the housework.
Life becomes increasingly complicated for Gilbert. A new FoodLand supermarket threatens his job at the small Lamson’s Grocery, and he is secretly involved in an affair with Betty Carver (Mary Steenburgen), a married woman. Amidst these struggles, a young woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her grandmother get stranded in town when their trailer breaks down. Gilbert is drawn to Becky, but his chaotic life and responsibilities, particularly toward Arnie, create obstacles in their growing connection.
One evening, Gilbert leaves Arnie alone in the bath to spend time with Becky, only to return home the next morning to find Arnie still in the cold water, shivering. This incident leaves Gilbert guilt-ridden and causes Arnie to develop a fear of water. Meanwhile, Betty ends their affair and leaves town after her husband drowns in their wading pool. As Becky grows closer to both Gilbert and Arnie, the family faces new challenges, including Arnie’s relentless attempts to climb the water tower again.
**Additional Information:**
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Cast director: Lasse Hallström
Cast actor: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover
Original name: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape