Lee’s film & Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee’s film, Brokeback Mountain, is one of passion, emotional struggle, heartache in relationships and unanswered questions in everyday life. Using a natural setting and authentic attire he examines the tumultuous relationship of two cowboys in a rugged area of Wyoming. The film poses various questions for the viewer, and how one is able to examine life, while fearing suspicion and choices, plagued with guilt and uncertainty.
First of all, the main characters Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar are stereotypical of Western gentlemen during the 1960s, on the outside. Ennis is a soft-spoken man with a chip on his shoulder, while Jack is a loud-mouth rodeo fiend. But, slowly, they find their way together, despite a time when homosexuality was seen as a societal ill, particularly in rural America. We know this to be a taboo topic, because it is something that was not widely accepted in mainstream media prior to the release of this film.
Several themes throughout the film apply to daily life, as we are able to analyze what drives individuals to difficult decisions. There is a thin line between love and obsession, and the basic human needs of affection, attention and survival all need to be nurtured. Communication is necessary, and divorce may be a result of a combination of lying, deceit and hiding one’s true self (Rose & Urschel 2006). This also proves that the reality of a dilemma can either be found in a one-night stand, or an affair that lasts for decades.
Brokeback Mountain allows the viewer a chance to reflect upon our own values of consequence, presenting a very real relationship. When we usher aside our feelings of sexuality between two men, we can understand this to be a universal romance story. This forces us to understand a new knowledge of a bond between humans that transcends gender and stigma, and that, while circumstances may be different for each individual, we are all ultimately striving for happiness and love.
This is a story that can be told to future generations to examine morality and life decisions. References Ossana, D. & Schamus, J. (Producers) & Lee, A. (Director). (2005). Brokeback mountain [Motion Picture]. United States: Focus Features. Rose, J. & Urschel, J. (2006). Understanding the complexity of love in brokeback mountain: an analysis of the film and short story. Journal of Men’s Studies, 14(2), 247-251. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier.
