Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"I was supposed to control the weather"... Jack and the Wind
Front-Ranger:
It's easy to imagine the sheep crawling up on Jack for comfort because of that scene where the sheep is laying on Jack while getting a pedicure ;D.
I'm going OT here, but on The Morning AFter when Ennis wakes up, do you recall how loud the sound of the rushing water is outside the tent? And what a happy sound it is?!
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on May 18, 2006, 04:47:03 pm ---I'm going OT here, but on The Morning AFter when Ennis wakes up, do you recall how loud the sound of the rushing water is outside the tent? And what a happy sound it is?!
--- End quote ---
I hadn't noticed that, but thanks for pointing it out, Lee! I can almost hear it. I love the way water is used to symbolize their relationship (and how scenes with Ennis and Alma often involve tap -- artificial -- water), and how sad it is when it gets stiller and stiller as the movie goes on, until in the end they're at a lake. I started wondering today if there's any significance in what direction the water is flowing -- from Ennis toward Jack, or vise versa? That might be reaching, though.
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 18, 2006, 04:53:16 pm ---I hadn't noticed that, but thanks for pointing it out, Lee! I can almost hear it. I love the way water is used to symbolize their relationship (and how scenes with Ennis and Alma often involve tap -- artificial -- water), and how sad it is when it gets stiller and stiller as the movie goes on, until in the end they're at a lake. I started wondering today if there's any significance in what direction the water is flowing -- from Ennis toward Jack, or vise versa? That might be reaching, though.
--- End quote ---
I had noticed the happy rushing water sound (seems to coincide too with the look of utter contentment on Jack's face as he's sleeping), but I had not thought about the waters getting stiller and stiller throughout. Thanks for pointing that out, Katherine! :)
Brown Eyes:
Yeah, the rushing water is striking me more and more as a really significant symbol. In some of their later camping trips they seem to be camping near what appear to be almost white water rapids. Also, at least once, Ang Lee uses a simple shot of water rushing in a stream to transition from a camping trip back to the "real world" in average society.
Also, lately more details about the flashback are striking me. It's hard to focus on some of the little details here because it's easy (and better) to get swept up in the emotion of the scene. But, I've really been aware of the transition that Lee uses to shift from the intense hug at the end of the argument to the surreal and wistful peacefulness of the flashback. The main transition is facilitated by the sound of the wind!!
:D
Seriously, the sound effect of the wind sort of ushers the viewer out of the mindset of the argument and into the different time/place/mood of the flashback.
Very excellent.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 18, 2006, 11:58:04 pm ---Also, lately more details about the flashback are striking me. It's hard to focus on some of the little details here because it's easy (and better) to get swept up in the emotion of the scene. But, I've really been aware of the transition that Lee uses to shift from the intense hug at the end of the argument to the surreal and wistful peacefulness of the flashback. The main transition is facilitated by the sound of the wind!!
:D
Seriously, the sound effect of the wind sort of ushers the viewer out of the mindset of the argument and into the different time/place/mood of the flashback.
--- End quote ---
Thanks Amanda, I hadn't noticed that -- perhaps because as soon as the scene switches from them hugging by the lake to the flashback campfire, I always burst into tears. Not because of the argument. Lately I have found the flashback itself to be one of the saddest scenes in the whole movie, between its sad context, its suggestion of how happy they COULD have been, its showing Ennis in one of his few nurturing moments, its transition from young Jack's dreamy expression to old Jack's grim one, its "see you in the morning" and all that implies, and because it's the last time we see Jack.
You know, I just thought of another subtextual meaning for "see you in the morning" besides the sort of metaphysical ones we've discussed (e.g., see you in the next world, see you when society becomes less homophobic, etc.). In both the past and the present, Ennis rides off, confident that he will see Jack in the morning (or "in November," in the present). And in the flashback, he will. But in the present, he won't.
Is there a sound of wind I'm missing due to sobbing? Maybe that helps trigger my sadness, too.
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 18, 2006, 11:58:04 pm ---Also, at least once, Ang Lee uses a simple shot of water rushing in a stream to transition from a camping trip back to the "real world" in average society.
--- End quote ---
And they cross a stream with the sheep when they're going up to Brokeback the first time, transitioning from the "real world" to their idyll.
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