Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why is the "dozy embrace" in the film?
twistedude:
Although it may sometimes be sexdess, I would not rule sexual hunger out of any feelking of love, edenbarby, or whoever it was that justr ignored me...for some reason.
coffeecat33:
There are so many thoughtful comments in this thread. I LOVE the dozy embrace. It's my absolute favorite scene in the film. (I don't think this is a "flaw" in A.P.'s story; she's too good a writer.) I love how Jack & Ennis can be so overwhelmingly passionate (1st tent scene) and then so tender (2nd tent scene). Jack never quits Ennis because he is hanging on to that one sweet, loving moment and keeps looking/hoping for it again. I don't think Jack ever quits Ennis, but he is raw with hurt after Ennis' rejection when Jack drives up to see him after the divorce. (How sad that Jack says, "I had to ask about 10 people where you were livin.") I think Jack then starts to protect himself with Ennis after that. He couldn't not go on the fishing/kissing trips with Ennis, but part of his soul gave up. The contrast between their youthful, beautiful and loving faces with the sight of Ennis driving away (all we can see is the horse's hind end) and Jack's disillusioned, sad and angry face is very telling.
Katie77:
I have just read thru this entire thread, and it all brings back the sadness of this wonderful scene...so many meanings to it, and all of them seem right, so many feelings put into one scene, it is remarkable.
When I have watched the scene, I always think....Jack is always watching Ennis leaving him in some form or another.....after the first tent scene, as he rides up to the sheep, as he looks at him in the rear view mirror....he always seems to be going in the opposite direction to Jack, not only travelling, but in his thoughts as well.
The "dozey embrace" shows them facing the same way, and Jack remembering it this way, shows, that this is the way it should have always been.....
When they say that "a picture tells a thousand words", they must have been talking about this scene.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: coffeecat33 on July 25, 2006, 08:11:51 pm ---It's my absolute favorite scene in the film. (I don't think this is a "flaw" in A.P.'s story; she's too good a writer.)
--- End quote ---
Hi Coffeecat, how're things in my hometown? :)
Just to clarify, I find the scene beautiful too, but in context very sad. And I DEFINITELY don't think the whole scene is a flaw -- just AP's line about Ennis not wanting to embrace Jack from the front. I think even gifted writers occasionally make less than perfect choices.
--- Quote from: Katie77 on July 25, 2006, 08:38:01 pm ---The "dozey embrace" shows them facing the same way, and Jack remembering it this way, shows, that this is the way it should have always been.....
--- End quote ---
I like this explanation better. I think the dozy embrace is supposed to show they were in love as opposed to just having sex, and having them embrace from the front would have confused the issue.
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on July 25, 2006, 08:43:28 pm ---I like this explanation better. I think the dozy embrace is supposed to show they were in love as opposed to just having sex, and having them embrace from the front would have confused the issue.
--- End quote ---
I do, too, Katherine. Thanks for that, Katie.
And Diane, you're right - Jack's hope certainly starts to die the day Ennis sends him on his way after the divorce, but he does still keep trying. At least one time - "Well, maybe you oughta get outta there (and move to Texas to be closer to me)..." And the "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it" can be considered another attempt. That phrase interests me so much: "...I can hardly stand it." Jack's been trying to fix what he can hardly stand all along, and trying even harder in some ways after he knows to what extent and why Ennis is so broken. Then of course the mirroring with Ennis' "I can't stand this no more, Jack." Jack knows he can try to fix it all he wants, but if Ennis doesn't want to/can't, they'll never get any further than they are right then. That, to me, is when he knows for certain that there is absolutely no hope.
Thanks Sam for your lovely compliment. Yes, I think that is what true love is, too - a sexless hunger. It was definitely worth the time and effort it took Annie to come up with that term. Which is not to say, Julie, that true love is utterly sexless. Just that the sexual passion the two of them feel for each other is based on true love - on fully understanding and accepting each other exactly as he is - not just on animal lust.
I've had passion for someone I didn't love, loved someone I had no passion for, and had passion for someone based on the love I felt for him at the very center of my being - as the song goes, he's the only one who really knew me at all. And I'm here to tell ya that while the first two are each nice in their own way, ain't nothing like the third.
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