Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
P.O. Boxes, Mailboxes and the No. 17
Cameron:
--- Quote from: jpwagoneer1964 on January 31, 2007, 11:45:53 pm ---I think Ennis was sad not depressed, huge difference.
--- End quote ---
Yes there is a big difference but to me the lake scene and especially the bus station, it just looked liked real depression to me.
By then Ennis seemed to be incapable of living, like he was going through the motions, especially at the bus station.
I mean he wasn't even at the bar, because there were people at the bar, and he couldn't eat.
IMO those were signs of depression, but then again just MHO.
(Although I do agree that Lightening flats was grief and sadness)
Lynne:
Wow! There are some really excellent points being made here. I *love* the dual interpretation of Ennis affixing the numbers to the mailbox - that's brilliant, and like Amanda points out, ambiguous, probably intentionally. I see dual interpretations and ambiguity pretty much everywhere I look, though. And I change my mind, depending on how I'm feeling when I watch.
I tend to think Ennis found some measure of peace at the end. To me, the shrine of the postcard, the bloody shirts (reversed!), and 'I swear' combine to tell me that Ennis has come to terms with who he is and with what he and Jack meant to each other. His willingness to skip the roundup and attend Junior's wedding supports this - Ennis has come to understand what it is to love. He can directly relate to what a wedding symbolizes (He had no clue when he himself was 19.). Further, he appreciates what it means that Junior is able to celebrate her love openly - an experience he and Jack were not destined to have.
Keeping the shrine in the closet (movie) alludes to gay people having to hide their identity (obviously), but people also keep their most precious possessions hidden in safe places. Keeping a treasured memory private gives it a power that may dissipate when it's shared with the world. Again - a dual interpretation.
I feel the same way about the open window...there's the obvious door shutting/window opening interpretation. When we see the wind across the field, we think of Jack. Ennis is still in the trailer, but at least he is looking out that window. Regret? Certainly. Future? Possibly.
Obviously there's a great deal of sadness throughout Ennis' whole life - he tried not to be a 'sad daddy' with his daughters. But somehow I don't see depression at the end, in the way we usually think of depression. There's certainly some apathy with respect to his physical comfort: 'Don't have nothing, don't need nothing.' But is it really apathy? or contentment in a minimalist sense? He's lost what was most precious to him, so everything else necessarily pales in comparison.
--- Quote ---In fact I think that is why Mrs. Twist does put her hand to her throat, not because of Mr. Twist but because in looking into Ennis's eyes after he finds the shirts she now understands everything between Jack and Ennis, and she feels Ennis's true grief and she is feeling the pain of his pain.
--- End quote ---
I completely agree that Jack's mother understands the depth of Ennis' grief in Lightning Flat. To me, her hand on her throat is a physical manifestation of this understanding - that the depth of her (and Ennis') pain cannot be articulated. Ennis only manages a respectful nod and a mumbled 'Thank you for this', indicating the shirts. But his eyes convey his gratitude more than any words could ever manage. Alternate interpretation: living with OMT has caused her to gauge her words carefully. Hell, there's a kitchen scale on the counter - they live a measured existence! Mrs. Twist may want to contradict her husband about the ashes but doesn't dare.
--- Quote ---(Another question, why does he now have a fancy knife set, when before he could barely even eat? I have been wondering about this.)
--- End quote ---
I've thought and thought and I have no idea what the knives mean. At least they're real knives instead of electric ones! Perhaps we're meant to remember Jack's confrontation with L.D. - a tribute to Jack finding his voice and standing up to his father-in-law vs. Monroe's milquetoast reaction to confrontation in his home. Is there a possibility that Ennis may find his own voice?
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: marlb42 on January 31, 2007, 11:38:48 pm ---In fact I have been rewatching Lightning Flats and if possible it seems that Ennis is even more distraught and in a greater state of grief as he left then I even originally thought. In fact I think that is why Mrs. Twist does put her hand to her throat, not because of Mr. Twist but because in looking into Ennis's eyes after he finds the shirts she now understands everything between Jack and Ennis, and she feels Ennis's true grief and she is feeling the pain of his pain.
--- End quote ---
This is a great observation, or way to interpret this gesture by Mrs. Twist. I've never heard it described that way before. But, you're right... her reaction probably is partially based on what she now has confirmed about Ennis and the pain she sees in his eyes, etc. But, I think her reaction is simultaneously in response to Mr. Twist's denial of Jack's final wish. I think both things are tearing at Mrs. Twist.
And, I certainly don't think it would be improbable for Ennis to be experiencing a kind of depression towards the end of the film.
Phillip Dampier:
--- Quote from: opinionista on January 31, 2007, 05:00:14 am ---As for the postcards writing, I think they didn't write long letters because, unlike women, men in general don't do that. At least I've never met any man who would write a long, detailed letter, unless they're at war.
--- End quote ---
:)
I think this is often true, but not always the case. When one of my closest friends irritated me with a whole series of events which threatened the friendship, I sat down and composed at least a five page letter putting my feelings and arguments down on paper. I already have a tendency to produce incredibly long messages anyway, so for me, five pages isn't out of line. And I have done that with other people as well, usually as a last resort when talking doesn't work. My friends immediately recognize "the Phil talk" or "the Phil letter" as being a clear warning sign there is a lecture or more or less final warning coming their way about something which they ignore at their peril. It's not a common practice with my male friends, and a lot of straight ones have even dumped "you're worse than my girlfriend" on me after getting one.
Sometimes, a heartfelt well-composed letter can cut through the noise and be better understood than side comments or a phone call. But I could imagine Jack and Ennis doing nothing of the sort. Well, I could imagine Jack -possibly- doing it at some point. As I've mentioned before, I'm sure Ma Bell was very upset over the fact neither let their fingers to the walking and picked up the phone and talked to one another. Rates are lower after 9pm! Dramatic effect for the filmmakers I'm sure, although one could believe Ennis didn't have a phone at times, and considering Jack had trouble tracking Ennis down after the divorce, that could partially explain it.
Jeff Wrangler:
Twenty, 25, and 30 years ago I used to be a great writer of long letters--and that was back in the days when it was still done by hand, with a pen, on real paper! :o ;D :laugh:
Now I just wonder how the heck I had the time. ... :-\
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