Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
19 or 20?
Front-Ranger:
In the story, Annie Proulx emphasizes Jack and Ennis's similarities and sets up a "two against the world" scenario. But in the movie, Ang Lee approaches the story of Ennis and Jack as a kind of yin/yang complementary relationship, where their differences are emphasized. Thus, Jack is the "experienced" one and Ennis is the "unexperienced" one (in sexual terms). Buffy, I think Jack's experience comes more from hanging around rodeos, rather than abuse by his father (although what his father does IS sexual abuse IMO). It hadn't happened before because the peeing scene is where Jack finds out that his father is uncircumsized.
chowhound:
--- Quote from: brokeplex on August 23, 2010, 04:55:07 pm ---correct, Lureen told Ennis when he called about Jack's death, that "he wasn't yet 40". so, Jack had to be 19 in 1963, but Ennis could have been younger.
--- End quote ---
Not necessarily, Buffymon and brokeplex. If Jack is 19 that summer on Brokeback, as the short story suggests, then he must have been born in the later months of 1943 and dies sometime in the summer of 1983 before he turns forty. However, if he is 20 when he first meets Ennis, as the screenplay states, then everything moves back a year to 1942-1982. When I get around to correcting that timeline, these are the dates I'll use in the modified version. I want it to be a timeline for the movie rather than the short and with this variant about how old Jack is when he first meets Ennis, you can't make the same timeline fit both movie and short story.
Marina:
--- Quote ---But in the movie, Ang Lee approaches the story of Ennis and Jack as a kind of yin/yang complementary relationship.
--- End quote ---
This was so beautifully apparent, wasn't it? :)
Whether 19 or 20 - never give it any thought. ;)
I guess I just assumed they were both around the same age due to the short story. I never thought Jack was much more experienced than Ennis, just that he was more willing to go with his feelings and take the risk on love, and Ennis was more hesitant. :)
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: chowhound on August 24, 2010, 12:33:26 pm ---Not necessarily, Buffymon and brokeplex. If Jack is 19 that summer on Brokeback, as the short story suggests, then he must have been born in the later months of 1943 and dies sometime in the summer of 1943 before he turns forty. However, if he is 20 when he first meets Ennis, as the screenplay states, then everything moves back a year to 1942-1982. When I get around to correcting that timeline, these are the dates I'll use in the modified version. I want it to be a timeline for the movie rather than the short and with this variant about how old Jack is when he first meets Ennis, you can't make the same timeline fit both movie and short story.
--- End quote ---
I wouldn't hold on religiously to the timeline as it is stated in the script. It's screwed up in several places. You'll get in trouble with calculating towards the end.
The script (according to STS book) says their last meeting takes place in 1981 (whereas the SS says May 1983).
It must have been before August, because Ennis cancels the August meeting, and tells Jack it'll be November till they can see each other again.
Then comes the scene with Cassie in the Greyhound station (also 1981 according to the script).
But low and behold, when Ennis recieves the postcard stamped deceased, the script says 1982. Same for Ennis's phone call with Lureen: 1982.
This is wrong, because on the postcard we see Ennis had been asking to meet at Pine Creek on November, 7th. November, as he had told Jack at their last meeting.
brokeplex:
--- Quote from: chowhound on August 24, 2010, 12:33:26 pm --- I want it to be a timeline for the movie rather than the short and with this variant about how old Jack is when he first meets Ennis, you can't make the same timeline fit both movie and short story.
--- End quote ---
yes, I agree, you can't make a timeline that fits both the film and the short story. the film makes some departures in the timeline of the short story. for example, I am convinced that because of the date shown in the film when Jack competes in the rodeo in Childress, and the date shown on the post card sent to Ennis later, that Bobby can't be Jack's child. But, the short story has no such implications. :)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version