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How old was Ennis, when his parents died?

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Brown Eyes:

--- Quote from: moremojo on May 08, 2006, 11:01:40 pm ---Interestingly, in both story and screenplay, we are told that Ennis doesn't see much of Jack in either of the Twists, but in the actual experience of the film, I can't help but feel that Ennis surely senses some of Jack's loving presence in the mother's quiet, dignified compassion. Roberta Maxwell's luminous blue eyes certainly remind me of Jake's, and each time we see Ennis regard Mrs. Twist, there is a look of sincere and grateful appreciation on his face.

--- End quote ---

Oh, I totally agree.  I think the filmmakers went out of their way to make Ennis see bits of Jack in both the Mother and the Father.  The casting here is good, so that it is very plausible that Jack/ Jake could be related to these two people physically speaking.  Absolutely, the warm and large blue eyes are key to the similarity to the Mother.  I think the deliberate "tell you what..." from Jack's Dad is meant to be a big reminder of Jack since we've heard Jack start his sentences like that often.  What a contrast though between Mr. Twist's spiteful bitterness and Jack's warmer tone.  The most important instance of "tell you what..." clearly is the "sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it" conversation.  It's amazing how much Ennis learns about Jack in this brief visit. 

TJ:
From the book: I was what, nine years old and they found Earl dead in a irrigation ditch.

Ennis was older than 9 years old, which we all know, but he was younger than 14, when his parents died in the vehicle accident on the highway.

Since his brother, K. E. was 3 years older, K. E. might have already finished high school or dropped out before Ennis' 14th Birthday. Their sister could have been the eldest child.

Under normal circumstances, Ennis would have been in the 8th Grade around the time he turned 14 years old. Since the "hardship license" was for him to attend "high school" then the Sage area school system must have grades 7 through 12 as "high school" grades.

In 1963 and even many years earlier, boys who lived in the country in Kansas and Oklahoma could get "Farm to Market/Farm to School" when they were 14 years old; although one could get a regular driver's license at age 16. Those special licenses had limits/curfews on how late in the day a younger teen could drive a vehicle.

Front-Ranger:
Beautiful thoughts, Amanda, TJ, and Scott.

Ellemeno:

--- Quote from: atz75 on May 08, 2006, 09:06:36 pm ---No wonder Ennis was upset about parting ways with Jack at the end of the Brokeback summer.  Ennis probably would have just been consumed with fears of abandonment based on all of his loss as a child/ younger teenager.

--- End quote ---

Yes, they played it just right, making him have a non-verbal pout and then tantrum.

And I've thought Ennis says in the film, "I wasn't but nine years old..."  "Wasn't but," almost like "Neither of them were 20."

Artiste:
Ennis was therefore vulnerable ?

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