Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Brokeback's filmic structure a palindrome ?
LauraGigs:
While Jack is alive, Ennis discusses him with only one person: Alma. On 2 occasions. Both are in a kitchen shortly after Ennis washes his hands.
The first is early evening as dinner is being prepared. (It's light out, but Alma is 'in the dark' about the relationship.)
The second is late evening as dinner is being put away. (It's dark out, but Alma is enlightened — and ripping away at Ennis' denial).
(A poster on IMDB once mentioned that a bag of bread is present in both scenes. Opaque—like Ennis—in the first. Transparent—like Ennis—in the second.)
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: RossInIllinois on May 04, 2007, 09:39:27 pm ---Woohaaa Buckaroo's! Trust me on this Ya'ALL are reading way to much into this. ;) ;D
--- End quote ---
The weird thing is, Ross, actually, we're not. I know it may seem like we are. But trust ME on this: we're not. :)
But I am very much a to-each-his-own person about BBM. Everybody is free to interpret the movie any way they want. If a less symbolic interpretation works for you, Ross, go for it! :)
RossInIllinois:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on May 05, 2007, 02:05:02 am ---The weird thing is, Ross, actually, we're not. I know it may seem like we are. But trust ME on this: we're not. :)
But I am very much a to-each-his-own person about BBM. Everybody is free to interpret the movie any way they want. If a less symbolic interpretation works for you, Ross, go for it! :)
--- End quote ---
Don't forget I worked on this film. I watched a lot of it happen. The script changed on a daily basis, Ang shot what was on paper in the script. Some of it good some of it not so good. What Ang did do was cut out all the crap and fluff that was in the original shooting draft. If symmetry's exist as you say its the screen writers not Ang Lee that put them there. A director is not at liberty to change a script without the consent of the writers and the Studio. What Ang did do was keep the movie closer to the short story when he did the final cut. This also gave the Studio a film that was the length it wanted. Anything else is pure coincidence.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: RossInIllinois on May 05, 2007, 02:21:42 am ---Don't forget I worked on this film. I watched a lot of it happen. The script changed on a daily basis no hidden messages in this one im afraid.
--- End quote ---
Sorry. I'm too sure that they're there to let that stop me. I'm not talking about hidden messages; I'm talking about careful construction. Some of it comes down to individual lines and scenes, a lot of it is larger in scope, some of it planned, some probably serendipitous. But the symbolism and structure are very vivid to me -- at this point, in fact, almost obvious -- and I don't think for a second they aren't intentional. Not a second. I don't mean I take a leap of faith; I mean there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever.
I realize that to you, Ross, my POV probably sounds like someone saying they've been abducted by aliens, and to me your POV sounds like someone who insists the earth is flat. We may not be able to agree on this. But really, that's OK. We don't have to! :)
Front-Ranger:
I'm envisioning a long scroll of paper that we can put up on the wall at the BBQ and colored markers with circles and arrows, as Arlo Guthrie sang about once upon a time. The header? "Palindromes in Brokeback Mountain"!!
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