Brokeback Mountain

"Brokeback Mountain" was first published as part of a collection of short stories under the title "Close Range", compiled by author Annie Proulx. Proulx was interested in examining Western social situations, based on years of subtle observation, contrasting regional images against the ideals of each character. Whether those ideals were attainable or not emphasized the difficult and sometimes rigid settings they struggled against. The contorversial nature of "Brokeback" caused doubt if the material would ever be published, but in 1997 it made its appearance in The New Yorker where it garnered much attention. Eventually, the material reached Hollywood, fleshed out to screenplay, with the finished product beautifully presented by director, Ang Lee.

The story takes place in Wyoming, as two cowboys - Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) - wait for summer positions as ranch hands for rancher Jose Aguirre. They languish the morning on a bleak and dusty plain, their isolation starkly parallel to the emptiness within them. We notice Jack furtively stealing glances at a stoic and reserved Ennis and the audience is immediately aware of the direction the story is taking. Both boys are eventually hired to move sheep from one crossing to another with the stern instruction of not leaving the flock at any cost. This rule is eventually broken after one fateful evening when Jack initiates the first move with Ennis. What ensues, then, is a relationship that spans nearly two decades - and between two marriages - chasing the dream of what may have been after that memorable first encounter.

What makes Brokeback so painful to watch is the complexity of each character's emotions as they grapple with what is happening around them. Jack and Ennis struggle to hide their feelings, despite the obvious attraction to each other. It could be argued that initally, as both men lacked any emotional support from society and their families, the solace they found in each other was more comfort than love. However, it is obvious later down the line, that the sentiment between the two did extend to more than that and was indeed there. Emotions are given a further turn with the direct impact of their lies to their wives and families; Ennis' wife, Alma, loves her husband unconditionally - until she is shattered to one day discover both men locked in a passionate kiss. She suffers in silence, saying nothing, her anguish gutwrenching, as Ennis continually escapes to Jack under the pretext of "fishing" - except noticably no fish are ever caught. Jack's relationship with his wife, Lureen, is equally strained, their marriage drifting as Lureen focuses increasingly on the family business and less on her family. His frequent trips with Ennis are his only escape, and when Lureen later confronts Ennis on an accident involving Jack, one can't help but notice the hint of suspicion in her voice and the dryness of her expression. The families of both men also contribute to their scorn, Jack's father being the worst as a sadistic authoritarian, who more than suspects his son's true involvement with Ennis. And society itself lays the final blow, preventing both from ever being together, as Ennis recounts an event involving two similar counterparts who went to live similar dreams. The result is a fatal hazing, the aftermath of which he witnesses and is forever seared in his mind, a stark warning of a similar fate to those entertaining such thoughts.

What punctuates the tragedy even further is the ripple of the lies they tell - both to themselves and to everyone else. From it, we witness the slow disintegration of their relationship with their families and eventually with each other. Their persuasion is not their downfall - but rather the lies that perpetuate from it. Brokeback becomes a memory, a place of solace they once visited but can no longer return to. Yet they cling to the last vestiges of that dream, both physically and symbolically, because they are constantly aware of what they can never attain. It is a powerful and moving message, a more-than-simple story about love, and a haunting display of friendship and devotion. Very highly recommended and not to be missed.