Hi there! My first BBM anniversary

[luigival]

Dear fellow Bettermostians and Tremblayans,
Here I am, still alive - it seems - though the devil of “never enough time” has hit me hard this year, forbidding me to visit these pages as I had hoped.
But these days mark an important moment for me and my BBM experience, as the 2006 Venice Film Festival is now approaching its conclusion, and it is bringing me back to almost one year ago – it was exactly the evening of Saturday, Sep. 17, 2005 – when I first heard about this movie and story while dining at some friends. Actually BBM had just won the Golden Lion, that day. So I felt it necessary to find some time today and share with you these few sentences.
Looking back, I’m just so glad that all the hype about BBM started here in Italy.
It’s been – and still is – a hectic year, but whenever I feel tired of running, or frustrated for things not working properly, the memory of that movie still helps me a lot, and I have rediscovered my long lost passion for cinema.
I must admit having become also sort of Gyllenhaalic, discovering a very promising young American actor as Jake is. This year at Venice it was Maggie though keeping up the family name with WTC, while delightful Anne Hathaway brought back some BBM cast on the Venetian Red Carpet with “Devil wears Prada”.
That’s it, my friends. Now I’m back on the run, but not before sending you all a very big hug – especially to EnnisLovesJack, FrontRanger, Pipedream, JudeW, Victoria, Impish, AussieChris and Kirkmusic -.
Ciao,
Luigi

[Aussie Chris]

Yay, happy anniversary Luigi!

I'm glad you found the time to drop by and share and sentence or two.

Right back at you with the hugs!

[YaadPyar]

Ray created this months ago, when we had first come over from IMDb, and everyone was in need of a cyber-group hug, cowboy-style.

Seems fitting to offer to you on your anniversary, which is just the first of what will be many anniversaries for this community.  Happiest first.

[Meryl]

Happy Anniversary, luigival!  It's been a great year, non e vero? 

[luigival]

Happy Anniversary, luigival!  It's been a great year, non e vero? 

It's been Meryl, you're right! Busy, hectic, chaotic, but I think I'm starting to be more myself than I had been in the past and that's a great achievement.
Thanks YaadPyar and Aussiechris for your hugs!
Luigi

[Shakesthecoffecan]

I have been thinking about this too, I don't know the date but it was in September I began hearing about "the gay cowboy movie" at the Venice film festival and I though: "I need to try and remember that name, it sounds like one I'd like to watch" meaning when it came out on DVD. What an innocent lamb I was waiting for them two to come along and herd me thru the portal.

[Front-Ranger]

Great to see U Luigi! Thanx for coming back to celebrate the anniversary with us. It's been terrific to see Casey Cornelius and you again. Have a great harvest season in Sardinia, and have a glass of one of those power reds for me!!

[luigival]

Great to see U Luigi! Thanx for coming back to celebrate the anniversary with us. It's been terrific to see Casey Cornelius and you again. Have a great harvest season in Sardinia, and have a glass of one of those power reds for me!!

I'll definitely have a great "cheers" for you all, Lee! Hope to see you in Sardinia one of these days,
Luigi

[Front-Ranger]

How about some new photos, Luigi, when you have a chance? The one you posted way back when was a little shadowy. And, are they bringing the sheep down from the mountain soon? We never have enough photos of sheep!

[luigival]

Will try to post a picture of Tavolara, a big island off the coast here which I consider to be my "BBM by the sea". It's a beautiful, wild and onyrical place which seems to be out of this world.
Just have to find the right image and then it will be there...wait a little more and you'll see it, I promise!

[newyearsday]

Hi Luigival! Nice to see you here again, and thanks for re-living your anniversary with us....I think it's going to be an intersting fall as we all move towards our first anniversaries with the movie.

What part of Italy are you in again? I am going to Venice in the spring. First trip to Italy and very much looking forward.

Cheers!
Jenny

[luigival]

What part of Italy are you in again? I am going to Venice in the spring. First trip to Italy and very much looking forward.

Cheers!
Jenny

Still based in Sardinia - when I'm not travelling, which is quite often! -. You'll definitely love Venice, a dream place with the added bonus of having been BBM's first messenger...
Ciao
Luigi

[jura86]

Can't believe it's already been a year since BBM won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival!!
I don't know about other countries and their reporting on the festival, but I distinctly remember in the UK on shows like Film 2005 (BBC) and Sky News there was hardly any expectation that BBM would win anything. In fact I remember seeing an interview with George Clooney where the reporter kept hinting that she thought Good Night and Good Luck would pick up some awards, and she kept name-dropping a few other actors/films she thought would win, and Clooney as charming as ever insisted that Brokeback Mountain was the incredible film of the festival! How right he was...!

[luigival]

and Clooney as charming as ever insisted that Brokeback Mountain was the incredible film of the festival! How right he was...!

You're absolutely right, and it is so incredible that yesterday, after at least two months since I had last watched it, I took an evening to devote to it again.
The result was that it moved and amazed and captured me even more than it had done in the past, and now I'm back with that strangely bittersweet flavour.
I think BBM fever is probably never letting me go anymore: maybe this movie is... too much for me. Wonderful movie!

[moremojo]

I think BBM fever is probably never letting me go anymore: maybe this movie is... too much for me. Wonderful movie!

Luigi, I've been thinking, in light of Jenny's plan to visit Venice and your reply to that, that this fabled city could just as easily become a site of BBM pilgrimage as any place in Wyoming or Alberta. In a sense, like you say, Brokeback fever took off on a worldwide basis from this very place. And just another reason for folks to go see this very famous city!

As for the fever not abating, I certainly hope, in my case, that it never does. It's only been about seven months for me, but I think this film, this story, and these characters will be a part of me for the remainder of my life. Whatever may happen, I take a cue from Story Jack, and say...let be, let be.

Congratulations on your anniversary. I think you must be the doyen of us all in terms of seeing the film for the first time.

Ciao for now,
Scott

[luigival]

Luigi, I've been thinking, in light of Jenny's plan to visit Venice and your reply to that, that this fabled city could just as easily become a site of BBM pilgrimage as any place in Wyoming or Alberta. In a sense, like you say, Brokeback fever took off on a worldwide basis from this very place. And just another reason for folks to go see this very famous city!

As for the fever not abating, I certainly hope, in my case, that it never does.

Right Scott, I do agree with you and am sure Venice should be considered as a place for BBM pilgrimage as much as Wyoming or Alberta. It was the place that made BBM famous and accepted to the larger crowds.
For sure one thing saddens me, and that is the fact that I only discovered BBM immediately after it had been awarded the Golden Lion in Venice, therefore missing the chance to get there - it's just one hour away by air from where I live - to see it before it actually hit the larger public, and maybe getting in touch with Ang, Jake, Heath, Michelle and Anne. I know I'm just dreaming, but what would be life without dreams?
And I also agree with your second point. I too hope the fever will not be abating, as I need it to warm my soul and only this story has been able to make me revive long forgotten and hidden feelings.
Ciao e a presto,
Luigi