Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Role of Observers, Viewers, the long-shot, Aguirre, and Us (!!!) in BBM?
Artiste:
Atz:
I was just about to say what you say:
It's about the clue we get about viewing positions based on Aguirre's use of binoculars.
This is about where we as viewers are situated when we observe Jack and Ennis in the film.
........
To me, that long shot provides anwser(s) at leats one answered by Mariez; and especially adds questions (some I mentioned)!!
But, it's much, much, much more... like forecasting trouble is coming! ?
Au revoir,
hugs!
Penthesilea:
There a some really good observations Amanda :D.
--- Quote from: atz75 on September 06, 2008, 08:39:05 pm ---The happy tussle scene is first presented to the viewer as a long-shot, simply observing Jack and Ennis's romp from quite a distance. It's only after the camera swings around and we see that we were actually inhabiting the place of Aguirre from behind his binoculars (with large, powerful lenses) that we understand how we were able to see the boys' romp.
--- End quote ---
My reaction to this swing of the camera was first a sharp intake of breath, like OMG, Aguirre is watching them, they're caught. Followed by a vague sense of being the voyeur myself, almost feeling guilty about it.
--- Quote ---There are lots of much later camping scenes that employ long shots... and also the device of muffled voices... of Jack and Ennis talking to one another without the viewer being able to hear clearly.
It's such an unusual filmming strategy. I really do wonder if this is really meant to make the viewer feel like an intruder on these private moments... or moments that Jack and Ennis really want to keep as private and personal.
--- End quote ---
Yes, definitively. The long distance shots are one way Ang Lee demonstrated this to us. Lee himself often emphasized how sacred their relationship is to them, and that they want to keep it private because it is so precious. I think keeping it a secret was both, a curse and a blessing. It was a curse because they were forced to keep it secret and it took its toll over the years (think of the lake side argument). But especially in the earlier years it was also a blessing, it was at least partly wanted by them because it made it even more special, sweet and sacred. A sweet secret.
--- Quote ---One question I have in relation to this observation is, do we think that those earlier "long shot" moments can be taken as indications of moments when Aguirre was watching them (with us in Aguirre's shoes and watching through his vantage point)? Or, more simply put, was the happy tussle the first time he watched them? Or did he start watching earlier.
--- End quote ---
Referring to the short story he didn't: "They believed themselves invisible, not knowing Joe Aguirre had watched them through his 10X42 binoculars for ten minutes one day, waiting ..."
I think this is exactly what Ang Lee wanted to show us, I don't think he intented to hint that Aguirre (or someone else in the later years) watched them. We (the audience)are the voyeurs, but even we are not allowed to see and hear everything. Restraint, as so often with Lee. He doesn't expose everything of the boys, in parts he allows them to keep their privacy, their secret.
I know I'm mixing different viewpoints in the last sentence; the outside viewpoint from a moviemaker's position, and the viewpoint from within the story, where Ennis and Jack are real. But I think that's just what Ang Lee did (and every movie making person should do, be it actor, screenwriter or director): thinking about how something effects the audience and thinking inside the logic, the circumstances of the story.
Artiste:
Like a Bettermost member, I will not name, would say maybe: Aquirre is house-sitting his two boys-ranch young men Ennis and Jack so to see if they are doing their job keeping the sheep well and alive; Aquirre's investment are those animals !! So that camera long shot showing Aquirre looking at them is a nescessity for Aquirre to keep his money investment as well as we, the audience become in Aquirre's feet as a voyeur!
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on September 07, 2008, 06:04:45 am ---
My reaction to this swing of the camera was first a sharp intake of breath, like OMG, Aguirre is watching them, they're caught. Followed by a vague sense of being the voyeur myself, almost feeling guilty about it.
...
I think this is exactly what Ang Lee wanted to show us, I don't think he intented to hint that Aguirre (or someone else in the later years) watched them. We (the audience)are the voyeurs, but even we are not allowed to see and hear everything. Restraint, as so often with Lee. He doesn't expose everything of the boys, in parts he allows them to keep their privacy, their secret.
I know I'm mixing different viewpoints in the last sentence; the outside viewpoint from a moviemaker's position, and the viewpoint from within the story, where Ennis and Jack are real. But I think that's just what Ang Lee did (and every movie making person should do, be it actor, screenwriter or director): thinking about how something effects the audience and thinking inside the logic, the circumstances of the story.
--- End quote ---
Thanks Chrissi! :)
I think your point about a vague (perhaps very vague) sense of guilt on the part of the viewer for intruding is a really interesting element of BBM to recognize. And, I completely agree that sorting out the film viewer's point of view, the filmmaker's point of view and the various points of view of characters within the story is a really complex task. But, it's interesting to think that Ang Lee is going to some effort (in the happy tussle scene and maybe in other scenes too) to make us the film viewer very aware that we have a role of some kind within the structure of the film.
So, here's a big question. Are we supposed to funchtion as "society" in our constant desire to observe the interactions between Ennis and Jack? Are we the faceless, mass society that is always of concern to Ennis in particular?
And, as you mention, Ang Lee protects Ennis and Jack from us in certain scenes when we can't see them well and can't really hear what they're saying to each other. I agree that the secret between Jack and Ennis is both a blessing and a curse.
Thinking about scenes later in the film when we seem to be positioned as film viewers as unwelcome voyeurs... the skinny dipping scene comes to mind as another case were we view what Ennis and Jack are doing from a great distance. We can here the statement "last one in!!" as they jump into the water. But, we're really mainly excluded from that scene.
Artiste:
Last one in, but too bad it's not a close-up!
So why so far away? Is LEE islamic?
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