Poll: Brokeback Mountain: The Impact

[Phillip Dampier]

A quick poll about the movie's impact....

[monimm18]

Phillip,

Great polling subject. Just wanted to say that I was really torn between #2 - Empathy for the characters; and #3 - Remembrance of past unfullfilled or problematic relationships. Chronologically, #2 hit me first and really hard, then, quite a while later, #3 hit; LOL - I am still sorting all that out. Ended up chosing #3, because #2 exculded the possibility of #3.

Moni

[montferrat]

Great poll Phillip!

I 'm one of the few that chose the last option.

For me I really was affected by Ennis' lonliness and how solitary he was and saw this movie mainly through that prism.

I mean, yes I get the other issues and empathize, but I most identified with the lonliness and solitude.

[starboardlight]

i think for me, first and foremost is grieving for the story and the characters. that then opened up the can of worms that is my life issues. I don't think it would have made me confront myself, if I story didn't move me so much.

[David]

Indeed Phillip,  Good poll!
 
I voted  "Reminder of Past Unfulfilled or Problematic Relationships in My Own Life".

Yup, this movie hit wayyy too close to home.   

Hopefully, (crosses fingers)  that is all behind me now.   

David

[Shakesthecoffecan]

I predict within the year psycological journals will be discussing "Ennis Syndrome" breaking out among closeted gay men of a certain age. Like a midlife crisis on steroid, That will be the longest impact of the story. I dearly hope it brings relief and answers to people, I am very fearful some have been pushed to the edge.

[isabelle]

I voted 'problematic relationship in my life now'. I wonder WHEN the effect of this film ends, or it might just be me being particularly slow: I haven't seen BBM for 3 weeks since they pulled it, and here we cannot get hold of the DVD till the end of April. I saw it 5 times, and am still thinking about it. It was such an earthquake in my life, that it is affecting me in one way after another, going deeper and deeper and deeper - never seeming to end. Today (yes, only today!), I started feeling that what this movie forces me to face up to, is that at the end of the day, if I am still with the same person I've been with for 7 years, it is because the Brokeback time we had together the first year still has a huge hold on me. But it comes down to this: I am like Jack in his final confrontation with Ennis by the lake. Under the spell of that dozy embrace that lasted a year, but feeling bitter now. Living with the memory of love.
On a lighter note, I have to ask myself: What would Jack do?
I always thought he was going to stay with Ennis anyhow. If I do, I'm afraid I may end up with a lover myself...

Phillip, I take this opportunity to thank you for this great place. I love it more than Chez Tremblay, when I almost quitted after the madness there lately!

[twistedude]

..................click to enlarge, and you can move it around...

[mike348]

I would say loneliness.  The film from start to end records Ennis's sad lonely life.  The scenery and music add to the feeling.  So much open space and then two guys who cannot say "I love you" and feel together.  Then Jack is killed....

[serious crayons]

Mike, I'm glad you're here and posting on these polls -- they're ones I've somehow missed before and now I'm glad to find them.

My answer was empathy with the characters. There ARE actually reminders of my own life in the film. But my emotional reaction has less to do with those connections to my own life than how involved I get in theirs.