Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Heath Ledger Remembrance Forum

What do you think was Heath's mission?

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louisev:
Jeff, I think that playing Ennis was an important element of Heath's mission, and, Oscar aside, he more than fulfilled that duty.  Hollywood will never be the same, those who made the film were touched by it and transformed, as have hundreds of thousands - millions? of others, since its release in 2005.  We are still talking about it every day.

I think there are other parts to his mission as well, ones we may see begin to take form in reaction to his death.  First of all, a renewed interest in his career,  several of which were of deep social relevance.  Another may be the increased daring of filmmakers to tread on formerly forbidden ground, and a greater willingness of the film industry to accept and to produce scripts that portray the struggle for LGBT civil rights.  I think that his portrayal of Ennis also allowed an untold number of others to begin to pen their own tales, encouraged by the heightened awareness caused by the film.  It is difficult to estimate the breakthrough this film has made - and the arts, particularly in the US, will never be the same.

The struggles of the LGBT population cannot remain marginalized in the "queer media."  They must be made mainstream.  "Will and Grace" and other popular shows in the media depicting gays, are effeminate caricatures, like African Americans in blackface or Jewish comedians in vaudeville.  There had to be a first breakthrough to the mainstream, and Heath was part of the charge out of the celluloid closet.

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote from: mariez on January 25, 2008, 04:45:54 pm ---Wow.  I love when someone finds the perfect words to express my own feelings.  Thank you, Jeff.

Marie

--- End quote ---

Thank you, Marie.  :)

Sandy:

--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on January 25, 2008, 01:26:01 pm ---Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was put on this earth to play Ennis Delmar, to show to the world in a way far more vivid than any news report or dry study what homophobia can do to the human soul.

--- End quote ---

Tell you what... what you said was perfect.

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote from: Sandy on January 25, 2008, 08:51:05 pm ---Tell you what... what you said was perfect.


--- End quote ---

Aww. ... Thank you, Sandy.

maggiesmommy GayLee:
i agree that He was put here to play Ennis....but more than that....in an interview, Heath said that when he played a role, he thought of the character as a "cloak", that he wrapped himsef in, and totally became the character he played. if this is true, then he did not "play "the ROLE of Ennis, He WAS Ennis. that puts a whole new light on Heath's mission. He felt everyhting Ennis felt as if it were happening to him in real life. He was  a confused guy finding his way in a new and frightening and equally exciting world...he KNEW the fear of rejection and maybe even death from just living your life...He KNEW, and because if him so MANY, MANY others now know...and understand and agree and swell with pride and revel in their own understanding where before there was none....His purpose here was not just to "play" a role: it was to become Ennis. It was to draw us to Ennis. It was for us who had been drawn in, to change in ways we never dreamed possible, and reach out and tell others and maybe make a small difference in this world of intollerence and fear and hatred.  It was his lot to bring a light to the darkness, help remove the scales from eyes blinded by learned prejudices. it was his god given mission, and he accomplished it comlpletely with honor and honesty and he, through Ennis has changed many lives, for the good, forever.  Mine is one.

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