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Ennis's poverty
by - artsybaebe (Mon Mar 13 2006 12:45:31 ) UPDATED Mon Mar 13 2006 12:46:23
Did anyone else notice this incredibly subtle detail that speaks volumes about Ennis's character?
I never noticed this until the third screening--very subtle. In the first scene, when Ennis is waiting for Aguirre to show up, he is smoking a cigarette--which he puts out before he's done with it and puts in his shirt pocket (I think). Then, when he and Jack have their first drink at the bar after getting their jobs, Ennis pulls out the partially-smoked cigarette and lights it up again.
This is an unbelievably small detail, but I think it speaks volumes about the true extent of Ennis's poverty--i.e. how truly dirt poor this man whose parents left $23. in a coffee can really was. I think it sheds light on the credibility of his excuse in the final scene with Jack as well--when he says he couldn't meet until November because he had to trade off August with his boss, couldn't quit his job because he had child support payments, how Jack never understood what it was like to be so poor, etc. Ennis spent his whole life trying to stay ahead of the bills, and the situation wasn't helped by Alma emasculating him by suggesting that he wasn't supporting his kids properly. Social class (or aspiring social class) and economic privilege (eg Jack's marriage into 'serious money') are major unacknowledged factors in the demise of his marriage and even his faltering relationship with Jack, in the end . . .
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - momoro (Mon Mar 13 2006 13:12:27 ) All good observations, artsybaebe. I'll have to look for the cigarette detail the next time I see the movie.
Ennis is barely beyond impoverishment throughout the story. The irony is that he is clearly a hard worker, conscientious even, in his way, and I truly believe he does the best he can with what he knows and expects from himself and his world. I actually had great sympathy for him at the lakeside quarrel, when he was obviously not simply begging off, but stating a very real need to earn desperately important income. This adds to the poignancy of the closing scene, when he agrees to attend Alma Junior's wedding, realizing how important it is to extend oneself for love's sake, even though he can scarcely afford to lose work. Ennis even, in my eyes, acquires a kind of heroic stature by story's end, in his stoic resolve to forge ahead, despite all the regret, hurt, and lost opportunities. He remains poor materially, but he has tasted an ineffable treasure that most will never know--true, abiding, soul-searing love.
Nothing compares, I think, when thinking right, to a good friend.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - Kd5000 (Mon Mar 13 2006 13:29:53 )
He's also too proud, he even turns Jack down when Jack offers to loan him some money when they come down from BBM... He should have let Jack pay for the trip to Mexico, but of course, Ennis never travels.
I'm sure his life would have much more comfortable if he had moved in with Jack at some time period. I guess Jack could rely on working on his dad's ranch for income and his in-laws would have paid to see him go....
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - xhepera (Mon Mar 13 2006 13:56:43 ) I'm sure his life would have much more comfortable if he had moved in with Jack at some time period. I guess Jack could rely on working on his dad's ranch for income and his in-laws would have paid to see him go....
Ah, but then we'd not have the story that we have come to know and love, with its deeply tragic pathos that borders on the archetypal.
Never wrestle with a pig. You'll just get dirty, and the pig enjoys it.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - MaryFanatic (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:12:40 ) it's almost funny.it felt like jack was the wife(let's face it,he was the bottom!) trying to tell her husband "let me pay".i thought that ennis felt he was the man in the relationship and he was'nt about to accept money from the woman(we need to remember that Ennis is not just homophobic but sexist as well).
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - kevinmcg (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:15:54 ) UPDATED Mon Mar 13 2006 14:16:33
Interesting how you mention Alma emasculating him....in the original, it specifically talks about how Ennis is inclined to only low paying job, doesn't take her or the kids anywhere and the ony trips he takes are those with Jack every few times a year. It's clear she thinks she's wasting her life and she initiates the divorce from him. She was smart to do it frankly.
Jack n' Ennis forever
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - milena-covic (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:28:05 )
UPDATED Tue Mar 14 2006 07:33:41
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I try to keep away from discussions about social classes because I know I am quite opinionated and passionate about it, maybe even tiresome (?), but I agree that it is a very important point. It is indeed, momoro, something which makes Ennis so poignant in his final scene with Jack. It is also an aspect that contributed to making the characters (Ennis, here) seem SO real, in my view.
I am not talking of myself, but I have several close friends, all males, who are dirt poor, not unlike Ennis. And yes, it affects their relationships badly.
(And Mary, we're talking about MEN here).
*****************************
"I can resist anything except temptation". (Oscar Wilde)
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - jshane2002 (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:30:36 )
"we need to remember that Ennis is not just homophobic but sexist as well" I agree :
When Ennis confronts Jack about going to Mexico you see how Ennis' self image is as a heterosexual man who just has this "thing" like it's a weakness for gambling. He's jealous of Jack and repulsed and disturbed all at the same time by the thought of Jack doing something so queer as going to Mexico.
"I hear what they have for boys like you in Mexico."
Coming out of the closet is a gradual process with others and with yourself.
Also the way Ennis goes nuts and practically strikes Alma when she confronts him with facts about the fishing gear. He is not only being confronted for his deliberate lying and deception but being accused of being a queer.
Ennis' sexism is on full display when he yells at Alma that she not only fix dinner but serve it. I don't know this for sure but I always suspected that Alma was provoking Ennis when this happened, like she may have mislead Ennis to think she would stay home and server him dinner ( and he would be looking forward to it ) and then suddenly "remember" that she had to go to work to take someone else's shift. It just seems that given Alma is trapped in this situation with Ennis the only way she has any power is to be passive aggresive.
You see this in the Thanksgiving scene where Alma sets Ennis up for the confrontation about the fishing gear. If Ennis had not raised his hand and been about to strike Alma she could have caught Ennis in all of his lying because Ennis didn't know Alma saw Jack and Ennis kissing.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - RobertPlant (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:51:24 )
Yes, I noticed the cigarette..
and the other more evident sign, represented by the little watch Aguirre gave him.
For what I could see Ennis never has a watch, while after those for year Jack is used to wear a big golden (maybe gold) watch and rings.
I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains
over the hills where the spirits fly
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - artsybaebe (Mon Mar 13 2006 14:55:07 ) well, actually, I was referring quite specifically to the 'emasculating' scene in which she had the bad taste to make the statement about 'precautions' and more kids--they were in the middle of having sex, for heaven's sake; he was inside her, and he quickly 'lost it', shall we say, as soon as she said 'i'll have them if you'll support them'.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - Front-Ranger (Mon Mar 13 2006 15:14:20 ) In Alma's defense, I need to point out that before she said, "I'll have 'em if you'll support 'em" he said "If you don't want any more of my children, I'll be happy to leave you alone." In other words, he was just having sex with her to impregnate her and wasn't concerned or interested in her pleasure or their relationship.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - VerdiGuy (Mon Mar 13 2006 15:22:21 ) I love the cigarette detail - noticed it the first time I saw the movie. He may even have to bum lights when he wants a smoke; d'you notice that in the bar he asks to use Jack's lighter? He may not have matches of his own, or he may not want to "waste" one of them when someone else's lighter is handy and available.
I've always figured that when we first see Ennis, everything he owns in the world is either on his back, or in the paper bag that he's carrying.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - meryl_88 (Mon Mar 13 2006 15:31:54 ) It's interesting to consider the money issue in Jack and Ennis's relationship. I think Ennis's attitude toward money is as much of an obstacle to his getting together with Jack as is his fear of exposure as a homosexual.
Like most people, Ennis equates money with power. When Alma leaves him at home with the children so she can go out and earn money, it hits him where it hurts most. He's not the powerful one in the relationship at that moment.
So how can he avoid being powerless in his relationship with Jack, since he can't compete with Jack's income? He uses his lack of money to control him. Jack always has to come to him because he has to work, his pickup would never make it to Texas, etc. Letting Jack pay for a trip to Mexico or finance that cow-and-calf operation would take away Ennis's power, and the whole tone of their relationship would change. In a way, it is to his advantage to remain in low-paying jobs so that he can maintain this hold on Jack. Maybe that's what he really means when he says it's because of Jack that he's "nothing, nowhere."
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - jmmgallagher (Mon Mar 13 2006 16:12:05 ) I believe you're absolutely right when it comes to Ennis's attitude to money, Meryl, but in re: the following:
In a way, it is to his advantage to remain in low-paying jobs so that he can maintain this hold on Jack. Maybe that's what he really means when he says it's because of Jack that he's "nothing, nowhere."
I think it's really just that Ennis avoided taking jobs he couldn't easily ditch for the precious two- or three-times-a-year visit by Jack--he could never DREAM of getting a job that would give him that type of legitimate leave!--and perhaps also that he simply avoided taking jobs where there would be more scrutiny of his life, where he would be less anonymous.
And that's really
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - lauragigs (Mon Mar 13 2006 16:58:58 ) UPDATED Mon Mar 13 2006 17:20:07
" . . . the situation wasn't helped by Alma emasculating him by suggesting that he wasn't supporting his kids properly." Now hold on -- Alma was doing them both a huge favor at that point, as stinging as her remark must have been for Ennis. Can you imagine if Ennis had to pay child support for three or more children? He never would have made it.
It's never okay to bring an unwanted child into the world, just to gratify someone's ego. And as much as I adore Ennis, he needed that reality check.
" . . . perhaps also that he simply avoided taking jobs where there would be more scrutiny of his life, where he would be less anonymous."
What an interesting point.
"Like most people, Ennis equates money with power. . . He uses his lack of money to control Jack." I don't think Ennis was conciously trying to wield power over Jack in some petty way. It was a pride thing. Think of this:
Money is associated with masculinity, or at least was in the early 60s. Ennis was already extremely sexually conflicted; the bruises to his pride over Alma having to work and Jack having a bit more $ must have been all he could bear. He spent huge amounts of physical and emotional energy reinforcing his masculinity to himself. This was part of all of that. And considering the other facets of that effort (the fighting, the repression and denial, etc. etc.), this was a relatively benign part of it!!
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - delalluvia (Mon Mar 13 2006 17:12:41 ) In a way, it is to his advantage to remain in low-paying jobs so that he can maintain this hold on Jack. Maybe that's what he really means when he says it's because of Jack that he's "nothing, nowhere." Naw, I have to disagree with this.
Ennis LIKED his jobs. He hated socializing, was bad at it, wasn't educated, probably felt stupid most of his life compared to other people. Out in the wilds, tending cattle or whatnot - animals don't care if you have a degree or not, or make money or not. To Ennis, his ranch hand jobs were freedom from the expectations of society that he knew he didn't meet. His sexuality turned out to be just another societal expectation he also fell down on. And again, ranch jobs and being out in the middle of nowhere gave him the freedom to be himself as well with no judgments passed on him.
Team Jolie
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - jmmgallagher (Mon Mar 13 2006 17:18:36 ) "As clumsy as I am, I'd probably electrocute myself."--Ennis del Mar
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - fernly (Mon Mar 13 2006 17:34:41 ) and since Ennis wasn't at all clumsy, this was a way to (jokingly? not sure) reject a job he couldn't have stood
"on the mountain, flying in the euphoric, bitter air"
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - jmmgallagher (Mon Mar 13 2006 17:37:12 ) Not clumsy? Fernly, didn't you see that poor cowboy on the dancefloor?
If Alma had succeeded in putting him in a job in that power plant, he would've been burnt to a crisp inside a week.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - carmenjonze-1 (Mon Mar 13 2006 17:54:34 ) UPDATED Mon Mar 13 2006 17:55:18
there are a lot of threads regarding "feeling sorry" for the wives or for Alma or for all 4.
one of the most striking things about BBM is the contrast between the breathtaking natural beauty of the settings and the stark poverty of the people who live there.
Ennis and Jack are seasonal/migrant workers, after all, a term that is today typically reserved for Latino immigrants, especially in CA.
one reason i really dislike Lureen and her father is their class anxiety that oozes out of every pore, and which they take out on Jack, constantly. they are classic white "new money".
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=new+money in other words, pretentious without knowing how obvious they really are.
but BBM is very special to me because it presents the characters in a way that doesn't look down on them for being poor and struggling whites. a lot of films set in rural areas might make fun of the characters. i hate films like that. BBM seemed to me to never go to that place.
__
"Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you."
Malcolm
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - fernly (Mon Mar 13 2006 18:02:46 ) OK, in Ennis' defense, he managed to smoke while 'dancing', and not set Cassie's hair (which was probably highly flammable due to lots of hair spray) on fire. And, he rode and handled horses skillfully, picked up sick and screaming children, etc.
"on the mountain, flying in the euphoric, bitter air"
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - jmmgallagher (Mon Mar 13 2006 18:07:51 )
"BBM seemed to me to never go to that place."
How true, Carmenjonze--that's probably Annie and Ang both.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - naun (Mon Mar 13 2006 18:14:26 ) Never noticed the cigarette. Thanks for pointing that out.
For me, and entirely for personal reasons, the most powerful symbol of Ennis and Alma's poverty is the washboard that Alma uses. There's that shot of the first Del Mar household where the camera pans from Ennis arriving with the horses, across the interior of the house, to Alma at the sink. Before the shot arrives at Alma we hear a grinding sound which I always take at first to be the sound of an antiquated washing machine, but turns out of course to be Alma doing the clothes. I grew up in Southeast Asia at a time when many poorer households did do their washing by hand -- I imagine they still do -- and seeing a woman use a washboard is terribly evocative for me of that kind of poverty. Whatever disappointments Alma may have endured in her marriage to Monroe, I hope he at least bought her a nice washing machine.
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - Shuggy (Mon Mar 13 2006 18:39:01 ) Money is associated with masculinity, or at least was in the early 60s.
I had been thinking that when Alma says "What about my job?" she is making a proto-feminist statement, but in fact she's thinking purely of the money: she may even earn more than he does.
"If you can't stand it, you gotta fix it."
www.cafepress.com/ahua/1167379
Re: Ennis's poverty
by - chibidesign (Mon Mar 13 2006 19:00:14 ) Yeah, I'm with you there, though I don't dislike Lureen. I get the distinct impression that the Newsomes are one generation off dirt ranches thenselves, with all the attendant snobbery that that seems to entail. The class-consciouness would have been intensified by the fact that there really is serious money in Texas (I'm from the central part of the state), way more than the easily-impressed Jack could have imagined. I think the neighborhood with the highest median income in the whole US is in Houston, though it's hardly my scene.
You so seldom see depictions of gay characters other than sophisticated urbanites, and yeah it is special to see such a portrait of characters who would usually be dismissed as trailer trash (by educated urban-dwelling gay people).
There was a thread a couple of weeks ago by a woman saying wistfully she'd rather live in a trailer with her true love than be comfortable in a marriage that wasn't making it. Though poverty can really have a corrosive effect on the strongest love, this film has made me seriously reevaluate some of my own attitudes about money and class (I live in a an up-and-coming neighborhood where the funk is getting pushed out by the money, an old story out here). In it's own way, it addresses a lot of the same issues as "Crash", though maybe a little more quietly.
I think a lot of what we think of as racial issues in this country are actually class issues, though we like to pretend that doesn't exist here.
The affluent couple played by Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton in "Crash" thought their money insulated them from racismm but look who their oppressor was: a white, working-class man using the little bit of power he had to express his own class resentments. And what vehicle does he use? Good old sexual harrassment. It's traumatic for them, but if these were real people, Cameron and Christine have a lot more options in life than Officer Ryan, or Ennis del Mar.
Trespassers will be shot.
Survivors will be shot again.
