Summary
The film opens with a shot of a long, empty country road in Endora, Iowa. Two voices engage in discussion, and as the camera pans out, Gilbert Grape and his younger brother, Arnie, appear in the frame. Arnie is impatient as he awaits the arrival of the caravans that come through town every year. When the RVs finally arrive, Arnie chases after them with glee. Meanwhile, Gilbert’s voice-over narrates the scene—he explains that watching the parade of campers is an annual tradition that he and his brother share.
In addition, Gilbert says that Arnie is developmentally delayed, and doctors never thought that he would reach the age of eighteen. Now, on the cusp of Arnie’s eighteenth birthday, Gilbert and the rest of his family are planning a party to celebrate. As both the line of campers and the brothers disappear into the distance, we see that one trailer lags behind and breaks down on the road. Two women, one older and one younger, exit their steaming trailer. The shot then transitions to show the facades of Endora’s broken down mom-and-pop shops.
As we become acquainted with the Endora landscape, Gilbert ruminates on the mundanity of his hometown. He works at a local grocery store, which is on the brink of closing due to its new, neighboring corporate competitor, FoodLand. Gilbert reveals that following his father’s suicide, it has been his responsibility to care for both the dilapidated family home and for Arnie. Gilbert then introduces the rest of his family.
Amy, his older sister, is described as “more like a mother,” as she assumes the majority of the family’s domestic responsibilities. Unlike Amy and Gilbert, Ellen, Gilbert’s fifteen-year-old younger sister, practices narcissism rather than empathy. Gilbert also mentions that he has another brother, Larry, who managed to “get away.” A picture on the refrigerator displays Mama, who, “in her day, was the prettiest girl” in Endora. The camera then cuts to present-day Bonnie Grape, who is morbidly obese and hasn’t left the house in seven years. Her appearance and behavior appear to haunt and dominate the life of each child.
As Gilbert drives Arnie and Ellen into town, they pass the women from the broken-down RV. Arnie notices and is fascinated by the sight of the shiny caravan, but Ellen and Gilbert are oblivious to its presence. While at Lamson’s Grocery, Gilbert is sent to deliver items to Betty Carver, a local married mother with whom he is having an affair. Their brief rendezvous is interrupted when Betty’s husband returns home earlier than expected. Ignorant of his wife’s affair, Betty’s husband gives Gilbert a cash tip. As Gilbert enters his truck, he finds that Arnie has run away. He finds him ascending the ladder to the town’s water tower—apparently, this something that happens regularly.
Arnie’s antics at the water tower have garnered quite a crowd. Many townspeople, including the girl stranded from the broken-down RV, watch as Gilbert gently convinces Arnie to descend. After Arnie safely returns home, the family discusses his upcoming birthday party over dinner. However, an argument breaks out at the table. Later, Gilbert’s best friend Tucker Van Dyke comes to the Grape home to help make some repairs. As he works on the house, a young boy with his group of friends comes to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bonnie. Gilbert lifts the boy up so that he can clearly see Gilbert’s mother, and Tucker voices his bewilderment at Gilbert’s decision to encourage his mother’s ostracization.
Later, Arnie and Gilbert walk with Tucker in town. After Tucker asks how Bonnie is, Gilbert merely replies that she’s “fat.” Once again, Tucker seems to defend Bonnie, telling Gilbert that she’s not as large as others think and that he should encourage his mother to exercise. The three men then meet up with Bobby McBurney, the town’s funeral director, at a local diner. As Tucker rambles about his hopes for a prospective job at Burger Barn, the young woman from the broken RV passes by. Gilbert is clearly mesmerized by her beauty, and the two lock eyes as she passes. She later appears at Lamson’s Grocery, at the same time as Betty. Gilbert accompanies the young woman home in order to assist with her grocery delivery. She introduces herself as Becky.
Analysis
The film’s opening shot establishes the thematic significance of Endora’s road. On one hand, Gilbert and Arnie’s life can be compared to their town’s long and hilly country road. Their lives in Endora seem lonely and endless, but winding and full of ups and downs. On the other hand, the opening scene can be interpreted as idyllic and peaceful. When Arnie’s voice cuts through the landscape, we are first introduced to the series of emergencies and tragedies that dominate the lives of those in the Grape family. The contrasting motifs of mundanity and the specter of tragedy remain the driving themes throughout the film.
The annual arrival of the RVs bears particular significance. The RVs remind the townies that a life outside of Endora exists. Additionally, they signify the existence of a “way out” of Endora. Though the campers pass through the town each year, they never take a moment to stop in Endora. Although Arnie and Gilbert are excited by and look forward to their arrival, the thrill is one-sided—the visitors are just passing through. Though the occurrence is important to the Grapes, this event also reminds Gilbert that Endora and its inhabitants are trivial to those outside of its perimeter.
When Becky and her grandmother’s camper breaks down, it indicates the start of a new episode in Gilbert’s life. As Becky and her grandmother are forced to stop in Endora, Gilbert and his family can finally be noticed and recognized by people from outside of their closed-in community. This interest and encouragement causes a change in Gilbert’s routine and provides him with long-needed attention. The means of Becky’s arrival foreshadows the effect she has on Gilbert’s life. Through his relationship with Becky, Gilbert is able to traverse unknown emotional territory. Additionally, he is continuously reminded that the world is much larger than his small world in Endora. As Gilbert narrates the opening series of montage shots, his voice takes on a monotonous tone. This theme of monotony is likewise reflected in the subjects of Gilbert’s commentary. The dilapidated mom-and-pop shops are described without affect, and Gilbert appears both uninspired and somewhat embarrassed of his life in his town.
As Gilbert transitions to describing the dynamics of his family, we understand that his personal existence is an anomaly in his sleepy town. The theme of the untraditional family is introduced, as Amy assumes the maternal role and Gilbert the paternal. Instead of being cared for by parents, we learn that Ellen, Gilbert, and Amy are caretakers for Bonnie, their 500-pound mother. Bonnie’s weight symbolizes how she “weighs down” the family. Bonnie’s belief that she is the family’s burden is a recurring idea that causes Bonnie to continually feel ashamed and embarrassed of her own existence.
Gilbert’s relationship with his mother is important to consider when evaluating his relationship with Betty. Although Betty appears more interested in Gilbert than he is in her, Gilbert’s passivity and continuation of the affair indicates that Betty provides him with something that he lacks at home. Gilbert deeply resents Bonnie, and his affair with Betty is perhaps motivated by his desire to be loved and cared for by a maternal figure. As a means of distracting himself from his complicated family life, Gilbert chooses to involve himself in Betty’s life. Ironically, however, his relationship with Betty causes him more complications than relief. The constant specter of Mr. Carver finding out about the affair forces Gilbert to face the effects his romance has on Betty’s own family.
Gilbert’s disgust and deep-seeded anger towards his mother are particularly evident when he lifts the young boy from Endora up to the window in order to get a better look at Bonnie. In this way, Gilbert encourages the reputation of his mother as a town spectacle. Though Tucker is put off by Gilbert’s decision to promote the mockery of Bonnie, it is clear that Gilbert uses humor and lightheartedness to conceal his true feelings of resentment and embarrassment. In this action, the audience is informed of Gilbert’s insecurities and coping mechanisms.
In addition, Arnie’s ascent of the water tower first introduces the audience to a recurring action that both paces the film’s plot and establishes a recurring motif. Though Arnie is developmentally delayed, there are many times where he is even more “tuned-in” to his environment than his other family members. As a foil to Gilbert, Arnie recognizes his fears, shouts his insecurities, and outwardly expresses his affection for those who he loves. Arnie’s recurring attempts to ascend the water tower demonstrates his own desire to escape Endora and find “higher ground.” Additionally, Arnie’s climb serves to bring members of the Endora community together. After Becky watches Arnie climb the tower and sees how Gilbert coaxes him back down, Becky is inspired to reach out to the brothers, thus marking the start of their friendship.
