Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Double meanings: Lines that can be taken more than one way
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: HerrKaiser on May 03, 2007, 11:45:56 am ---OK...here's more!
When Ennis and Jack are parting company after their time on BBM, Ennis says at one point near the truck, "Like I said, Alma and me, we's gettin married in November...."
Clearly they had a conversationless trip down the mountain, a berating from Aguirre, and a prospect of separation; three of the most uneasy things for a person--moving, changing jobs, changing relationship. I think Ennis was reaching out for a comment from Jack; Ennis was looking for some way to begin a dialog. He was fishing for 'are you sure you want to do that?' or 'can I come up for the wedding?'...something to carry the comment to the next level. The more simple interpretation and hence the double meaning is that Ennis was drawing his line in the sand, telling Jack his life is planned and in a different direction.
I think it is the former. This is classic ennis--completely inward with his inner door cracked ever so slightly, peering out, hoping that someone will kick it open. Such is what makes him totally irresistible.
--- End quote ---
This scene is soooo complicated. And, I do think that Ennis is fishing for some kind of support from Jack here. He has relied on Jack to take the lead in pushing their relationship/ situation along and now I do think he's tacitly hoping that Jack might have some kind of solution to his dilemma regarding being engaged to Alma.
But, the ever-talkative Jack never responds to the topic of Alma or the wedding when Ennis brings it up. When Ennis first tells Jack that he's engaged to Alma, Jack almost pointedly and deliberately ignores the comment and changes the subject.
I wonder if important silences throughout the film could be an interesting side-topic here.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 04, 2007, 12:04:00 am ---I wonder if important silences throughout the film could be an interesting side-topic here.
--- End quote ---
Good idea! Or lines that don't get answered.
I agree with you all that Ennis is hoping that Jack will somehow do something about the situation, including the marriage plans. Even the way he phrases it. Jack asks whether he'll be back next year, and Ennis doesn't say "no," or even or "I don't think so" or "I doubt it." He says "maybe not ..." as if leaving open the possibility that he could. And then when he mentions the marriage and his work plans, he doesn't sound very sure about them.
Penthesilea:
--- Quote ---I wonder if important silences throughout the film could be an interesting side-topic here.
--- End quote ---
I agrree with you and Katherine. I think it deserves its own topic. Amanda, would you go on and open it?
Another important silence follows shortly after. For me, it's the most important silence in this scene:
"Guess I'll see you around..."
Jack nods and says a meager and defeated "Right".
But then, Ennis does not go. He lingers and waits, but neither of them says a word. A heavy and loaded silence.
Jack, who otherwise has the gift of the gab, doesn't say a goddamn word. He doesn't read Ennis' hesitation correctly (both, Ennis' hesitation and uncertainty in his words about his future and his hesitation to go).
This silence marks a very crucial moment in the movie. Who knows what might have been, had Jack said a word to keep Ennis from going.
I can think of more important silences, but I'll wait for Amanda to open a new thread.
HerrKaiser:
a separate thread on "silences" is interesting, but it is a central theme in most of the threads/discussions about Ennis' inward, withholding personality already. Nice to reopen those thoughts, though, and retrace/add to that which has been discussed. Of course, a key "silent" moment was Ennis' silent response to "...miss you so much I can hardly stand it".
but back to the thought at hand here...Ennis' attempt to get a response from Jack was very much like the end of a date on the porch--do you ask for another date? Do you plan to talk tomorrow? The men knew their next steps were taking them out of reach and they simply did not know how to hold onto the macho thing to do--buck up and handle being 'shipped off'--but at the same time yield to their young (only 19) emotions of, at minimum, a strong puppy love.
brokebackjack:
Penthesilea, IMO more is said through silence then with dialogue. Especially with BBM: Witness the entire first meeting of J&E
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version