Brokeback Mountain is achieving mainstream acceptance and success in bringing two gay characters together in a way that connects with an audience far beyond the usual art house crowd.
For many people, that connection has packed an unexpected and powerful emotional wallop. Having allowed three weeks to pass since visiting Brokeback Mountain has given me some time to reflect on the stages I’ve been going through. If you’re still coping with an emotional overload, perhaps this will help provide some perspective and comfort, or at least bring a smile to your face.
The Five Stages of Brokeback Grief & Acceptance
1. Obsession & Isolation
These go hand and hand and occur most often just after seeing the film. You may find yourself taking a sick day (or more), withdraw from social events and friends, and instead dwell on the movie. That means lots of screen time in front of the computer Googing for as much information you can find about the film and hunting down forums in order to verify you have not just lost your mind. Most commonly heard phrase: “Just leave me alone right now.”
2. Denial: The Answer Isn’t Out There
You have now just spent more time on Brokeback Mountain than the characters did, looking for answers about what in the world is making you run this movie in your head over and over again. You have just watched the same 30 second clip someone posted online for the 10th time, ordered the soundtrack, read the short story, and are starting to write in forums just to make absolutely sure you have not just lost your mind because your mood isn’t getting any better just exploring the movie.
3. Questioning: Maybe The Answer Is Inside Me?
The ticket tearer at your local theater now calls you by your first name. Your friends, who haven’t seen or heard from you in what they call “ages” now greet you with “Dr. Livingston I presume?” The Amber Alert is called off. But now you are driving them crazy by constantly discussing Brokeback Mountain. And no, they don’t want to go to Old Navy with you to try out Denim outerwear.
Except no matter how much you try and make them understand, the truth about Brokeback is that either they “get it” or they don’t. And that’s the problem. you “get it” because you’re “living it.”
4. Realization & Reasoning: Your New Reality
Now you’ve realized what has happened. Something on the big screen has awakened something in yourself. It’s nothing that can be resolved with another viewing, regardless of how happy your local theater is to accept your $8 admission. Something about you has been brought to the surface. It could be your sexuality, your relationships, your accomplishments (or lack thereof), or just a sense that time might be running out for you to avoid the equivalent of My Dinner With Ennis, talking about the “couldas, wouldas, and shouldhas.”
5. The Two Roads: Reinvest in a New Reality or Distract Yourself Until You Can Forget About It
BetterMost is going to work best for people who are opting to reinvest in themselves. You don’t need to sit around and dwell on the negative things on screen reflecting the negative things in your life. The energy you invest in the depression and sadness for the characters is one thing, but do not allow it to earn interest in your own reality.
If there is something in your life that has gone for years without being dealt with, why not take the first step and deal with it starting today. You’ll be joining others who are starting right along with you. You were surprised to discover literally thousands of people just like you feeling many of the same things you’ve felt after Brokeback Mountain. So why not surprise yourself some more and let’s work together to make some positive changes.
The alternative, and I can sense this has begun to happen based on dwindling forum traffic on many sites devoted strictly to the movie itself, is to simply move on and put all of the feelings back in the box.
If you appreciated Annie Proulx’s story, why let that happen?
I hope you dont mind that I have inserted the entire initial post that you did here Phillip.....it will make it easier maybe for the newcomers to find it, without scrolling down, like I have just done....
Dont know how I missed this thread, but glad now that I have read it.....you certainly have combined all the feelings, that we all have in common.....I would be very surprised if anyone in this forum, has not felt at least one, and most probably have felt all of what you describe here.
As it was written way back in February, you were then obviously unaware, that these feelings were going to go on and on......I know with me, when I sit down and watch the movie again, for the umpteenth time, it all starts all over again....the difference from experiencing it now, compared to the first time, is that I too thought that I was "the only one" to feel that way, and even that I might be a little "crazy".......
Now I let the feelings take over without any fear, without any emabarrasment, without any wondering "why"......I know why it happens, I like why it happens and I have no doubt it will always happen....
I hope any newcomers to the board, get some satisfaction and explanation from your words....
