Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 16/07: Did Alma Jr. know Ennis was gay?
LauraGigs:
Great posts Katie.
I have to agree with Del; I don't think Jr had the background to just see right through her dad's facade.
--- Quote ---It would be normal for someone her age at that time and place to "see the trees, but be confused by the forest."
--- End quote ---
Exactly. All the abstract clues are there, but it still requires a huge leap for her to see past some big facts: Daddy is macho, he's been married, and he's her father — her model for what manhood and the male role in a heterosexual relationship is.
Some of the clues involve Ennis' excitement around fishing-trip time — and comparative indifference to Alma and Cassie. But then again, that's textbook behavior for many straight men of the time: emotionally buttoned-down at home, but stoked to escape all the estrogen and down a few beers with the buds.
Another point is that the film seems pretty tone-deaf on child development. Ennis talks of "taking the girls into town for an ice cream" when — at age 1 1/2 and 6 months — they couldn't possibly appreciate it. Ditto on the Fireworks Scene ("got 2 little girls here" — they're going to understand the bikers and be corrupted?) And why would Bobby need a tutor at the age of 2 or 3?
Ang's direction (in the post-divorce and Cassie scenes) implies that she may be on to her dad. But at age 12 and 15, she just wouldn't be.
I think Junior watching Ennis & Cassie dance echoes Lureen at the Childress dance: she knows something's not right, but has yet to put it all together.
Brown Eyes:
Laura,
You're absolutely right that BBM in general seems to treat the behavior of children at various ages very strangely. I wonder if this has to do with the larger problem of the overall timeline (which itself is a little goofy... as we know).
MaineWriter:
--- Quote from: atz75 on November 28, 2007, 10:01:58 am ---Laura,
You're absolutely right that BBM in general seems to treat the behavior of children at various ages very strangely. I wonder if this has to do with the larger problem of the overall timeline (which itself is a little goofy... as we know).
--- End quote ---
As much as we all love the movie, I think they were a little sloppy on a few details, like this child development issue. It irks me when Alma, Jr. mentions her wedding date ("June 5 at the Methodist Church") because it was a Wednesday.
Everyone's comments about Alma and her dad are great. I keep thinking about it and still haven't made up my mind!
L
brokeplex:
Alma, Jr. may have suspected that there was something "special" about her father's "friendship" with Jack. Perhaps Alma might at some point in time "spill the beans". I would hope that over time Alma,Jr. and her dad would have a candid talk. I know that in my own life it surprised me that my sister understood about my "secret" relationship with Chris. Maybe Ennis would be surprised at the number of people who understood and cared.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on November 28, 2007, 10:19:18 am ---As much as we all love the movie, I think they were a little sloppy on a few details, like this child development issue. It irks me when Alma, Jr. mentions her wedding date ("June 5 at the Methodist Church") because it was a Wednesday.
--- End quote ---
Tuesday, Honey (June 5, 1984)--as you showed me. ;D :-*
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