Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Life and this movie are messy
Front-Ranger:
Roland, I don't know how to answer your question. It was a guy who made the movie but I don't think he directed them to spit just to reinforce the fact that they are guys.
I wanted to ask everyone, why was Ennis shown spitting (and rather violently at that) just when Jack is backing his truck out of the driveway (such as it is) in the post-divorce scene?
Mikaela:
--- Quote ---In other words, I think you should trust your emotional instincts first.
--- End quote ---
I agree. And I'm fine with agreeing to disagree too - I don't think it's ever possible to reach a consensus on any one discussion topic related to a film with such consistently high level of intentional ambiguity as BBM has.
That said, my first instinct was to see each instance of spitting as signs of contempt, frustration, and/or anger. Mainly contempt. And that's how I still see it.
--- Quote ---why was Ennis shown spitting (and rather violently at that) just when Jack is backing his truck out of the driveway (such as it is) in the post-divorce scene?
--- End quote ---
An expression of immense helpless frustration over the whole situation, IMO.
And when Jack spits on the way down the mountain, to me it's as if he's shouting "To hell with it!" in frustration and angry confusion.
And as for Ennis's spitting when he has it out with Jack over Mexico - yes, contempt. And Jack sees it that way too - it's part of the reason why he gets ticked off.
Of course the spitting habit may have been very common in that time and place, I'm not denying that - but it's not something the actors would just do because it was an ordinary thing to do IMO - it must be based on dicussions on how to best portray their characters in these specific and (mostly) very emotional and crucial scenes. So personally I can't imagine the spitting not having a clear intention and message in those scenes above and beyond showing a cultural habit of the times.
Jeff Wrangler:
Roland and Celeste,
Thank you for your posts.
Tell you what. The truth is, sometimes I feel that if someone sat down and deliberately planned everything in this film in which someone somewhere has seen symbolism or significance, we'd still be waiting for the film to be made.
:)
Bucky:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 11, 2006, 06:22:22 pm ---Roland and Celeste,
Thank you for your posts.
Tell you what. The truth is, sometimes I feel that if someone sat down and deliberately planned everything in this film in which someone somewhere has seen symbolism or significance, we'd still be waiting for the film to be made.
:)
--- End quote ---
Jeff,
I completely agree with your post. When Ennis and Jack were spitting in the movie I didn't read anything special into it. I just thought that was what guys in the west in their time frame did. I guess both of them had been brought up to believe that spitting made them look more manly or something. ???
Mikaela:
--- Quote ---The truth is, sometimes I feel that if someone sat down and deliberately planned everything in this film in which someone somewhere has seen symbolism or significance, we'd still be waiting for the film to be made.
--- End quote ---
I completely agree! I've thought so too, on more than one occasion.
Only...... There'll never be agreement among fans on *which* of all the possible symbols are actual intentional and deliberate symbols from the filmmakers' side. Perhaps we'll get to know more about that and have some confirmation either way, concerning the spitting even, when commentary tracks are released with a special edition DVD. :) (Please, please, please...there has to be one such, and I hope soon!)
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