Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

Little boy Ennis/ fireworks scene

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Penthesilea:
Whenever I see the movie, there's always one little boy that sticks out to me from the crowd in the fireworks scene. Unfortunately I couldn't find a screen caption with him in it, so I hope my description will be enough.

It is at the beginning of the scene, he is one of the boys trying to light the firecracker. First we see two arms and the firecracker, then we see one boy. He wears a denim jacket, a straw cowboy hat, a plaid shirt and a beige bandana. He has blonde hairs and wears glasses.

Everytime I see him, he reminds me of Ennis. I can't help but think he is Ennis. Well, kind of embodiment/materialization of the boy Ennis once was.

In this scene, plenty of people are to be seen, but two of them really stick out to me and one is said boy. His face has not a notably alikeness to Ennis, but the rest fits. He looks like a miniature edition of Ennis. He wears glasses and Ennis did not as a boy, but he should have.

Though he reaches down to light the firecracker, he is not the one who does it. His hand pulls away. And he seems to be a bit frightened of the firecracker who has just been lighted. Fascinated by it, but also backing off from it.

I've never seen anybody mentioning this boy, but for me he is very noticable.

The second person that catches my eye is an old man, sitting on the ground. His clothes are held in Ennis's colors, too and he waves a little American flag. He watches the turmoil around the bikers.
With him I am not so sure, my feeling is not so strong as with the boy, but I think he could portray Ennis as old man.

We've talked about other man with black/white hats representing the respective other to our cowoboys in some scenes (during Jack's dance with Lureen for example).
Maybe in the fireworks scene there are two persons representing one of our cowboy's self at a different phase of his life.
If so, what does this mean? And can you think of similar representaions for Jack? Bobby comes to my mind, in the combine driving scene, as possible representative of Jack. And it would be logical to have no representative of old Jack.

Your thoughts?

Penthesilea:

--- Quote from: goadra on November 02, 2006, 08:48:00 am ---I’m pretty sure that this “extra” is the same as the old man briefly glimpsed at the Childress dinner, dancing awkwardly with a much younger woman. Ennis dancing with Junior at her wedding, perhaps?

--- End quote ---

Thanks goadra for answering. I'll check to see whether the old man is the same in both scenes.

And a little shameless *bump*. Am I really the only one who sees Ennis in this little boy?

Mikaela:
I really like the idea that young Jack and Ennis as well as old Ennis are "represented" or  somehow indicated to be present in the film. It's an interesting thought. It might well be that, subconsciously or consciously, that was one reason why those specific extras scenes were picked out for the film in the editing process.

Like you I've also noted the boy with the firecracker, and his combined fascination and fear of the explosive - just as you describe it. I'm having a bit of a problem seeing him as a direct image or personification of young Ennis, though - and I've had to let that percolate in my mind a bit to come up with the reason why that is so:

It's simply that to me the boy in the film seems more carefree and openly curious, more freely fascinated, than I imagine Ennis ever was, - even before his father took him to see the murdered man in the ditch.  :-\ That scene of Ennis's father bringing his two sons along; nearly pushing them, reining them in; - his heavy hand on Ennis's neck....the boy's seeming reluctance to follow the father along: It indicates to me that Ennis grew up in an continually oppressive environment with a father that didn't allow his sons much leeway and who to some degree was abusive (mentally and/or physically) from the very first. An environment that would make the small boy learn to cover and hide, teaching himself to curb and disguise any expressions of delight, frank curiosity and inquisitiveness on his part. So I imagine the real young Ennis with a firecracker would have been more cautious, more on guard. :'(

serious crayons:
Interesting ideas, Chrissi! I haven't paid that much attention to either the boy or the old man. But now that you mention it, that would be a cool subtle idea.  :)

Brown Eyes:
I'm really glad you mentioned the little boy!  I have noticed him.  I've never thought to consider him as a "young Ennis" type... But it certainly makes sense.  I actually love the detail of the glasses in this interpretation... You're right Ennis should have had glasses.  The quiet old man makes me sort of sad, because he seems to be only half-heartedly enjoying the fireworks (at least that's how I read his face and gestures).  It could be a bit of foreshadowing of Ennis as the disappointed older man that he'll become.

In the fireworks scene I'm always scanning the crowd for a black hat (to fit with our discussions in the Black/ White hats thread).  I've never really noticed one.

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