Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
The true reason
Scott6373:
I need to throw this out there because it seems clearer and clearer to me.
First let me say that I was as effected as anyone by BBM, but we have to separate masterful storytelling and the Hollywood portrayal of "love" and "passion" from what we all know is real. Sure at the first blush of love, the physical and emotional investment is great, but as time goes on it mellows (if you're luck) into something that can exist on more than just the intense level that it may have been conceived on.
I started this thread with the topic of viewers feeling a sense of jealousy and envy toward our boys for the passionate love they had supposedly found, but the more I thought on the subject, the more I realized that what we saw in that film and experienced were cinematic recreations of real life, no matter how much truth the overall film told.
silkncense:
Hmmm - I may be off base here but I was not referring (exclusively) to sexual desire. (And I must admit, I did not read the review that started the discussion so I may be in my own world here).
The specific scenes that I referred to as 'emotional erotica' were not specifically sexual in content. While it is clear that Jack & Ennis are sexual partners, in my mind, it is not necessary to have an emotional connection to a person to have sexual desire for them. In fact, you could have love for a person and have sex with them and NOT have the 'emotional erotica' that is what I was trying to express. That overwhelming passion for a person. So deep in your gut that you can 'hardly stand it.'
Most of the scenes that depitct what is supposedly 'love' in Brokeback are not. How strong the sexual desire is is certainly debatable, but Ennis & his wife have sex several times on screen, Jack & Lureen have sex in the backseat of a car. Nothing. Did anyone feel any sexual tension or passion during those scenes? I certainly didn't. But the reunion kiss - that showed a passion that few ever find. The dozy embrace shows an emotional love that transcends many partnerings (is that a word?). And when Ennis collapsed at the lake - he was so emotionally devastated that his body couldn't maintain him.
This does not make this a 'chick flick' to me. I can't imagine anyone not only being drawn to this special feeling but craving it. Knowing that you are missing out if you don't ever have it -
And yet, that all-out, uncontrolled (not uncontrollable), enduring emotional love is not the story or lesson of Brokeback Mountain for me. That is what Annie & Ang lured us in with. Ultimately everyone has to decide what the lesson is for themselves.
Momof2:
Other than the lake scence and the entire end of the film the reunion scene was one of the best. To me it showed the absolute longing and passion they had for each other. Ennis so afraid to be seen in public as "queer" just absolutely catches Jack by surprize. You can see the shock in Jack's eyes. Not that he was not accepting, just so shocked that Ennis showed these feelings to him in public. So much passion and obvious longing. If someone kissed me like that I think I would have died right there. I was shocked (in a good way) when Ennis grabs him, throws him against the wall and kisses him.
I agree, in all of the other sex scenes (the wives) there is no passion and I was like oh well. But a totally different reaction to Jack and Ennis. Oh to be so lucky and experience that kind of passion and outward desire for another human.
dly64:
--- Quote from: Scott6373 on August 14, 2006, 11:23:22 am ---First let me say that I was as effected as anyone by BBM, but we have to separate masterful storytelling and the Hollywood portrayal of "love" and "passion" from what we all know is real. Sure at the first blush of love, the physical and emotional investment is great, but as time goes on it mellows (if you're luck) into something that can exist on more than just the intense level that it may have been conceived on.
I started this thread with the topic of viewers feeling a sense of jealousy and envy toward our boys for the passionate love they had supposedly found, but the more I thought on the subject, the more I realized that what we saw in that film and experienced were cinematic recreations of real life, no matter how much truth the overall film told.
--- End quote ---
Not that I don’t agree with you …. I just want to clarify. Are you saying that in real life, there is the intensity and passion for one another, but it mellows over time? (Which, by the way I completely agree … that is if you are speaking primarily on a physical level).
As for Ennis and Jack …. I think their love for each other is realistically portrayed (as much as can be in a work of fiction). What I am saying is that, yes, they have great passion for each other. And, yes, their sexual intimacy was passionate and intense throughout their entire relationship. Beyond the sex, however, is a deep love for each other that could not be diminished. As I said earlier, BBM does not give an idealized portrayal of love. It shows the good and the bad, the happy and the painful sides to a relationship. Maybe that is why this film has touched the hearts of so many. It is their longing for each other and their struggles that make their relationship ring true.
Scott6373:
--- Quote from: dly64 on August 14, 2006, 12:44:38 pm ---Beyond the sex, however, is a deep love for each other that could not be diminished. As I said earlier, BBM does not give an idealized portrayal of love.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure I can agree with that. In every attempt to picture the two of them actually living a life togather openly, I get all bogged up, and that's because I don't think it would have ever worked out. As Jack says, if you count up the times they had been togather in almost twenty years, it barely is enough to get past that initial sexual excitement. Please don't misunderstand me. They may have had a deep and abiding love for one another, but, yes, over time, love does mellow, phsyically and emotionaly, and changes dramatically, and I can't see them togather for very long.
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