His mother, Bonnie Grape suffers from an eating disorder as well as what seems to be severe depression, both chronic illnesses that swallowed her whole after her husband took his own life in the basement of their home. Gilbert, played by Johnny Depp, works at a grocery store to support his family- his seemingly depressed mother who suffers from an eating disorder, his mentally disabled younger brother and two sisters. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)- Trauma, Grief, Depression, Eating disorder, Support systems, Stigmas and Social harassment.ĭirected by Lasse Hallstrom, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a film showcasing a complex array of psychological themes from coping with grief to social pressures and the psychological toll that consumes a persons support system.I delve into an analysis of how a variety of psychological concepts are employed and treated in these movies, consequently providing a critique of each of these films approach to said psychological concepts. This essay looks at five movies, some with overarching themes of psychology and some with themes that run as undercurrents to the plot of the film. An effective medium of communication which has grown to contribute greatly to societal discourse on topics of mental health, what it means to suffer from psychological disorders, and the social approach to victims of mental illness film has platformed several stories and experiences like no other medium can. Over the years, the approach to psychology in films has moved from helping the filmmakers engage the audiences’ collective psyche and into showing the lived experiences of people with psychological disorders. It encourages empathy among audience members and help them live vicariously through the characters on the screen, many of whom would have been based on real-life individuals. Introduction: Film has always been an evocative way to introduce huge swathes of people to psychological concepts that require their own space in colloquial discourse. Synopsis: An analysis of a variety of psychological concepts employed in film from Trauma and Delusions to Stigmas and the Psychological distress experienced by one’s support system.
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