What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: A Slice of Life With a Twist of Melancholy

Well, where do I even start with “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”? This is one of those films that sneaks up on you like a sneaky summer shower when you’re still in your t-shirt. Directed by Lasse Hallström—who’s practically a legend back home like Hagström guitars in the old days—you might expect some Nordic melancholy, and you wouldn’t be too wrong.

First things first, you’ve got Johnny Depp, back when he wasn’t yet famous for being that guy in your weird aunt’s favorite pirate flicks. Watching him as Gilbert is like seeing a young elk finding its way in a world full of electric fences. And then there’s Leonardo DiCaprio—so young you might mistake him for the local paperboy. His role as Arnie? Completely heartbreaking, like finding out the Julmust is all gone before Christmas Eve dinner.

The thing is, there’s a rawness here that really gets under your skin. You can almost smell the grass in those open fields and feel the isolation of a tiny community where everyone knows your business before you do. I couldn’t help but think of that summer I spent in Dalarna, where it felt like time had stopped and everyone had the latest gossip.

There’s charm here too, like the frayed edges of a well-loved storybook. I love how Hallström captures the tension between duty and desire. Who hasn’t at some point felt trapped by expectations? Yet, maybe this film is a bit like surströmming, an acquired taste. The pacing can lag, like a Swedish train running late – believable, yet slightly irritating.

Overall, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” isn’t just about what’s on the surface. It’s about the undercurrents of life, the things we juggle and sometimes drop. Give it a watch if you’re in the mood for something rich and real like a fika with a friend that turns into a three-hour philosophical chat about life.

Check the trailer below