Water Walking Jesus - 'Christ in Our Home' Repost
by True_Oracle_of_Phoenix 34 minutes ago (Thu Dec 7 2006 11:50:14 )
by - CaseyCornelius (Thu Mar 30 2006 17:05:30 )
UPDATED Fri Mar 31 2006 07:14:15
I've commented on the songs which Jack and Ennis sing to each other in a prior thread titled Ennis and Jack Serenading which has long since been deleted,
But, I'm offering portions of it which I'd saved:
1] in memory of the numerous valuable and thought-provoking threads which have been deliberately sabotaged and or deleted out of spite
2] because the hatred and intolerance of some of the posts using so-called Biblical justification appearing on this Brokeback board needs to be challenged by some of the obvious Christian imagery and allusions contained in both the story and the film
3] as we prepare to celebrate His eminence with the coming Passion week and Easter
Jack's singing of the final fragment of Water Walking Jesus - a fictional hymn written by Larry McMurtry's son, Annie Proulx and another person listed in the credits for the film - is another subtle allusion, this time Biblical, which provides another layer of depth to Jack's character.
I'm moved to tears by the pathos of Jack's fondness for the Biblical account of the miracle of Jesus walking on the water and encouraging the disciple Peter to leave the rest of the disciples and join him on the tumult of the sea. What an apt Christian symbol to reflect Jack's more adventuresome, open, and daring spirit in complete contrast to that of the taciturn, mistrusting, fearful Ennis.
We could begin another whole discussion here with reference to Jack's Mother and how her acceptance of Jack's love for Ennis is not incompatible with her faith. Remember that in that final hallucinating wonderous Lightning Flat scene in the Twist kitchen she is prominently framed with the crucifix and its inscription "Christ in our Home". And, hence, in both Annie Proulx's eyes and Ang Lee's interpretation obviates any conflict between true Christian faith and the tolerance for a man loving another man.
Remember that in the story Jack serenades Ennis with a favored hymn, "Water Walking Jesus" learned from his mother who believed in THE PENTECOST [emphasis mine].
It's touching in the film that Jack cannot explain the Pentecost to Ennis, despite his up-bringing. He confuses it with the Last Judgement, whereas it is actually the beginning of the Christian church, with the first descent of the Holy Spirit, the enlightening 'paraclete' or comforter, upon all believers. Roberta Maxwell's brief, but astonishing portrayal of Jack's Mother sympathy towards Ennis, who has himself offered condolences to Lureen and Jack's parents, is all the more moving as she is the first and only person to realize the enormity of his own loss and offer comfort to HIM.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - starboardlight (Thu Mar 30 2006 17:26:37 )
Roberta gave us one of the most beautiful depiction of a Christian woman. The word that comes to mind when I think of her is "light", "grace", and "compassion". She brought so much love in her brief moment, and lifted us when the scene threaten to become oppressive. Jack's mother just shook me to the core, in how accepting she was of Jack and of this man who meant so much to Jack. It is clear that Jack was open to love and to his feeling because he learned it from her. Thanx Casey for reposting that. I loved reading it the first time around, and I love being reminded.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - amandazehnder (Thu Mar 30 2006 17:56:51 )
great observations. I love the idea of inviting another to also walk on water.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - delalluvia (Thu Mar 30 2006 18:11:32 )
Excellent observations.
But I'm fond of the idea - having roughed it myself in the wilderness areas of Wyoming - that the boys simply sang any song that they knew. The short story seems to back up this idea, otherwise we will have to make sense of 'Strawberry Roan' and Carl Perkins in the context of the story.
Jack, with his Pentecost mother would have been familiar with various hymns he probably heard her sing while at her knee as a boy.
I know I'm very familiar with my mother's favorite hymns, but not because of any religious fervor.
Team Jolie
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - Shuggy (Thu Mar 30 2006 18:38:54 )
I wonder if Annie Proulx, had in the back of her mind when she coined the title "Water Walking Jesus", the Gershwin aria and chorus, "Clara, Clara...Jake, Jake" from Porgy and Bess?
From memory (Google didn't find it):
Jake, Jake, there's no use a sorrowin'...
Jesus is walking on the water, comin to carry me home...
"If you can't stand it, you gotta fix it" and more at
www.cafepress.com/ahua/1167379Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - amandazehnder (Thu Mar 30 2006 18:44:32 )
How about this... maybe another "bookend" idea...
Here we see Jack singing a song from his Mother to Ennis. In the flashback, Ennis is recalling the saying (and maybe the lullaby he hums too?) from his long deceased Mother.
They both seemed to have had loving Mothers.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - naun (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:04:22 )
Casey, the movie and the story seem to be practically inexhaustible.
I'm moved to tears by the pathos of Jack's fondness for the Biblical account of the miracle of Jesus walking on the water and encouraging the disciple Peter to leave the rest of the disciples and join him on the tumult of the waters.
Unless memory is playing tricks, isn't there a shot where Jack walks across the river carrying a lamb, and makes a sort of gesture for Ennis to follow?
What an apt Christian symbol to reflect Jack's more adventuresome, open, and daring spirit in complete contrast to that of the taciturn, mistrusting, fearful Ennis.
It struck me only recently, after reading a comment by another poster, that Ennis' typical mannerism when speaking is to shake his head, while Jack characteristically nods in encouragement.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - delalluvia (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:08:29 )
See this is the thing. We've run the poor sheep and lambs and slaughtered them left and right in our quest for symbolism, Christian or not, but as someone very wise once pointed out to me:
There are only two major types of livestock ranched with any regularity in Wyoming - sheep and cattle.
If Proulx didn't use one, she had to use the other, so while the choice may have been symbolic, it was also practical.
Team Jolie
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - naun (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:20:36 )
UPDATED Fri Mar 31 2006 04:41:34
From memory (Google didn't find it):
Jake, Jake, there's no use a sorrowin'...
Jesus is walking on the water, comin to carry me home...
Here's the version given in the CD issue that I have of the 1951 Columbia recording. The second line is even more evocative of BBM:
Jake, Jake, don't you be downhearted,
Jake, Jake, don't you be sad an' lonesome.
Jesus is walkin' on de water,
Rise up an' follow Him home.
Interesting, in the light of Casey's remarks, that the version that Jack sings is about the Day of Judgement, while the version in Porgy & Bess is about being comforted.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - naun (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:26:12 )
There are only two major types of livestock ranched with any regularity in Wyoming - sheep and cattle.
If Proulx didn't use one, she had to use the other, so while the choice may have been symbolic, it was also practical.
Okay, but there was probably also a limited variety of livestock in the ancient biblical lands, but that doesn't stop them being symbolic in the Bible, either.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - delalluvia (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:28:09 )
Okay, but there was probably also a limited variety of livestock in the ancient biblical lands, but that doesn't stop them being symbolic in the Bible, either.
Naw, they didn't have very many cattle, they had mostly sheep, goats and pigs.
Team Jolie
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - Julie01 (Thu Mar 30 2006 19:40:49 )
He's the Lilly of the Valley,
he's the Bright and Morning Star
he's the fairest of 10,000 to my soul.
If it's good enough for Richard Right and Alice Munro, it's good enough for me.
Is anyone remotely interested in the fact that the Pentecost was when the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus' deciples, making them able to speask in tongues, and thus spread the love of God exponentially? Or don't you like movies?
Those in darkness, we don't see.--Brecht
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - starboardlight (Thu Mar 30 2006 20:17:32 )
How about this... maybe another "bookend" idea...
Here we see Jack singing a song from his Mother to Ennis. In the flashback, Ennis is recalling the saying (and maybe the lullaby he hums too?) from his long deceased Mother.
I love that observation. great catch.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - starboardlight (Thu Mar 30 2006 20:21:52 )
Unless memory is playing tricks, isn't there a shot where Jack walks across the river carrying a lamb, and makes a sort of gesture for Ennis to follow?
I love that interpretation. I just thought of it as a scene of them going up the mountain, and it may be just that. but I like being able to read into it.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - laxdoctor (Thu Mar 30 2006 22:29:06 )
Good post, good thread, good thoughtful contributions. Thank you all.
The scenes in the Twists' house are some of the most profoundly moving and important in all the thousands of films I've ever seen. The so-called Christians who won't see this film because they're paralyzed by fear are depriving themselves every bit as much as they would if they refused to look at the Pieta. The Christian friends I've taken to this film have every single one of them been awed and deeply moved by these scenes. It's not a Christian film, that's not the point. It's that in these scenes the love of Christ shines through the character of Jack's mother, courageous, unending, generous, wholly accepting, empowering.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - Shuggy (Thu Mar 30 2006 22:45:14 )
Of course your words are correct. What a treacherous thing memory is, to be sure.
"If you can't stand it, you gotta fix it" and more at www.cafepress.com/ahua/1167379
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - naun (Fri Mar 31 2006 04:39:08 )
Of course your words are correct. What a treacherous thing memory is, to be sure.
Your memory was good enough to make the connection in the first place, all I had to do was look up the words.
Isn't it amazing how many associations Annie Proulx touches off in her writing? The woman has a mind like a pinball machine. One of the tremendous things about the movie is how Lee, Ossana and McMurtry pick up on this aspect of her work and run with it. I never realized how pervasive the Christian imagery is in this film until I read some of the postings on this board. Like the way the telephone poles right at the beginning visually recall the Calvary. And yet I'm fairly sure that we don't see an actual cross until that literally crucial Lightning Flat scene.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Hom
by - Lost_FrenchyGirl (Fri Mar 31 2006 05:14:09 )
I know that's song "Water Walking Jesus " has been written by James McMurtry, Stephen Bruton and Annie Proulx.
But where can I find lyrics ? Please.
Re: Water Walking Jesus ------ 'Christ in Our Home'
by - taj_e (Fri Mar 31 2006 05:42:43 )
naun
***Unless memory is playing tricks, isn't there a shot where Jack walks across the river carrying a lamb, and makes a sort of gesture for Ennis to follow?***
Thanks for bringing up the scene. I always thought that Jake was asking Ennis to hurry up 'will you hurry up!'
I never thought about connecting it to the song
When Jake told Ennis about judgement it was actually regard to Pentecost