Pschology of Gildbert Grape

I loved What's Eating Gilbert Grape the first time I saw it nearly 15 years ago, but I had no idea how relevant it would become to my life. At the time I was a young woman who had just graduated from High School and was off on an adventure thousands of miles from home. Now I am a stay at home mother of 4 children, and I have two young children with autism. I see autism portrayed in television and movies all the time that are not accurate reflections of my children or my life, and even worse, I see lots of media portrayals that I consider offensive or damaging to the autistic community. Happily, What's Eating Gilbert Grape remains a movie that I love, now for more meaningful reasons than before.

In it's simple and subdued way, this movie is powerful to it's core. It's message is straightforward: people have value, no matter their outward appearance. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is the story of a young man whose family depend on him to the point where he's facing personal burnout. His teenaged brother has autism, which seems to pull the attention of the family away from more pressing concerns. Leonardo Di Caprio received an Oscar nomination for his role as Arnie Grape, the young autistic man. His acting is spot on and completely transcendent. Johnny Depp's understated portrayal of Gilbert's inner struggle brings to it the depth it demands without being schmaltzy. The music and cinematography are warm and beautiful without being over the top.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a movie that should be seen by anyone who wants to understand more about autism. It accurately shows what the everyday life struggles are for families with autistic members. It is frustrating, frightening, and stressful at times. There are points at which a caregiver feels trapped or exhausted. Ultimately, though, it is a bountifully rewarding and deeply exciting journey.

Too often, the picture people have in their minds when they hear autism is either that of a savant who can do stunning feats of memory or art, or a silent withdrawn person who sits alone in a corner. What's Eating Gilbert Grape shows accurately that people with autism are loving, joyful people who value the truth and just need some understanding sometimes.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is rated PG-13. I does have some language and sexuality in it. Use