Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Brokeback's filmic structure a palindrome ?
retropian:
WOW! What a great thread! Amazing ideas and observations. It takes previous discussions about bookends to another level.
I particularly like the juxtaposition of the early scenes on Brokeback with the visit to Lightening Flat. In an old thread on IMDB (I think it's archived here) there was a discussion about Brokeback as a sacred space. And another thread along the same lines about the Twist house(started by CasyCornelius too, sigh, I really miss Casey). This thread brings them together in my mind.
Brokeback has been compared to Eden. It was Jack and Ennis's sacred place. It is where their love grew. I think that is why the greenery and beauty of Brokeback was made to contrast to life on the dusty plains. One is verdant and alive, indicating how their love enlivens them, it's a force of nature. Life away from each other is barren and dry and loveless. Brokeback is where Ennis experiences love for the 1st time, The Twist house is where he experiences another powerful life altering emotion: grief. But, the Twist home, too is a sacred place. Casey compared it to a sepulcher. It is a place of grief, but unlike Brokeback, which is nature, a sepulcher is man made, as is Ennis's grief. The comparison of Ennis climb up the stairs with the climb up Brokeback really hits me as significant. In both Ennis discovers something important about himself and Jack. In both he has to manage potential dangerous older men. In both he is ministered to, on Brokeback by Jack in the "come upon a bear" scene and by Mrs. Twist in the Kitchen scene. Both Jack and she reach out and touch Ennis. The young Ennis pushes Jacks hand away, the older Ennis gratefully accepts Mrs. Twists gentle touch. Wow, there is no end to this, just why I love this movie.
Meryl:
--- Quote from: retropian on September 18, 2008, 10:24:36 am ---WOW! What a great thread! Amazing ideas and observations. It takes previous discussions about bookends to another level.
I particularly like the juxtaposition of the early scenes on Brokeback with the visit to Lightening Flat. In an old thread on IMDB (I think it's archived here) there was a discussion about Brokeback as a sacred space. And another thread along the same lines about the Twist house(started by CasyCornelius too, sigh, I really miss Casey). This thread brings them together in my mind.
Brokeback has been compared to Eden. It was Jack and Ennis's sacred place. It is where their love grew. I think that is why the greenery and beauty of Brokeback was made to contrast to life on the dusty plains. One is verdant and alive, indicating how their love enlivens them, it's a force of nature. Life away from each other is barren and dry and loveless. Brokeback is where Ennis experiences love for the 1st time, The Twist house is where he experiences another powerful life altering emotion: grief. But, the Twist home, too is a sacred place. Casey compared it to a sepulcher. It is a place of grief, but unlike Brokeback, which is nature, a sepulcher is man made, as is Ennis's grief. The comparison of Ennis climb up the stairs with the climb up Brokeback really hits me as significant. In both Ennis discovers something important about himself and Jack. In both he has to manage potential dangerous older men. In both he is ministered to, on Brokeback by Jack in the "come upon a bear" scene and by Mrs. Twist in the Kitchen scene. Both Jack and she reach out and touch Ennis. The young Ennis pushes Jacks hand away, the older Ennis gratefully accepts Mrs. Twists gentle touch. Wow, there is no end to this, just why I love this movie.
--- End quote ---
Excellent, excellent points, retropian. Thanks. 8)
And I miss Casey, too. How could we not? :-\
Front-Ranger:
Gaaa...I wish I could see the word palindrome like I used to!! ::)
Sason:
What a great thread!
Someone linked to it a while ago, and I have now read through it all for the first time.
Lots of food for thought and great insights, even after all these years! Isn't that amazing? :D
Meryl:
--- Quote from: Sason on August 19, 2016, 05:33:08 pm ---What a great thread!
Someone linked to it a while ago, and I have now read through it all for the first time.
Lots of food for thought and great insights, even after all these years! Isn't that amazing? :D
--- End quote ---
I'm glad you brought attention to this thread again, Sonja! I just re-read it and loved the feeling of being back on the mountain.
That old, cold time on the mountain, when they owned the world and nothing seemed wrong.
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