Brokeback Mountain (film)
"Brokeback Mountain" is a 2005 feature film directed by Ang Lee, based on Annie Proulx's 1997 short story. The narrative follows the complex and secret romantic relationship between two Wyoming cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who work together herding sheep in the summer of 1963. What begins as a close friendship evolves into a profound bond marked by both intimacy and societal constraints, as both men navigate their lives, ultimately marrying women and raising families while maintaining their connection through annual fishing trips.
The film is notable for its frank portrayal of bisexuality and same-sex relationships, breaking new ground in mainstream cinema by depicting gay sex scenes without centering the narrative solely on the struggle for gay civil rights. The characters' lives become increasingly complicated as they contend with societal expectations and personal fears, culminating in a tragic tension surrounding their relationship.
Upon release, "Brokeback Mountain" sparked significant controversy and criticism, particularly from conservative circles, due to its themes and portrayal of the American cowboy archetype. Despite this backlash, the film received widespread acclaim, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Director. Its significant cultural impact has contributed to a greater acceptance and representation of LGBTQ+ themes in film.
On this Page
Brokeback Mountain (film)
Identification: Film about a secret twenty-year love affair between two cowboys in the American West
Director: Ang Lee (b. 1954)
Date: Released on September 2, 2005
Brokeback Mountain was a 2005 feature film based on the 1997 short story of the same name by the American author Annie Proulx. The film depicts the meeting and subsequent secret romantic relationship that develops across decades between Ennis Del Mar ( Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), two livestock laborers working on the Wyoming plains in 1963.
In Brokeback Mountain, the young Wyoming cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist are hired to herd sheep in the open range near Brokeback Mountain throughout the summer. During this time, they form a close connection, which culminates in a sexual relationship. The film was one of the first produced by a major Hollywood studio (Universal) to depict bisexuality outside the confines of a plot based around the struggle for gay civil rights. It was also one of the first widely released films to depict gay sex scenes.
Brokeback Mountain primarily centers on the struggle of both men to carry on with their lives in the wake of their summer romance; both men eventually marry women and start families, continuing their connection through annual fishing trips. Each of their marriages deteriorates. While Twist insists the two could live together in seclusion, Del Mar balks at the suggestion for fear of retaliation from outsiders if their secret is discovered. Del Mar also maintains a close relationship with his two children despite a falling out with his wife, who uncovers the nature of his relationship with Twist.
When a postcard from Del Mar to Twist is returned to him stamped “Deceased,” Del Mar envisions Twist being murdered as the victim of a hate crime. Twist’s wife explains to Del Mar that his death was the result of an accident while repairing an automobile. The audience is left to decide what his true fate was.
Impact
Upon its release, a small but vocal group of conservative film critics and pundits encouraged boycotts of Brokeback Mountain due to its unapologetic portrayals of homosexuality. Many critical of the film were also shocked by its filmic undressing of the myth of the American cowboy. Nonetheless, the majority of audiences and film scholars lauded the film, both for its cinematic beauty and its tender love story. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best picture; it won best director, best adapted screenplay, and best original score. Despite the controversy surrounding its release, Brokeback Mountain became one of the most acclaimed and highest grossing films of the 2000s. It also became a landmark in the acceptance of gay romantic themes by both Hollywood filmmakers and audiences alike.
Bibliography
Ehrenstein, David. “‘Brokeback’s’ Tasteful Appeal.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2006. Web. 9 Aug. 2012.
Handley, William R., ed. The Brokeback Book: From Story to Cultural Phenomenon. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 2011. Print.
Needham, Gary. Brokeback Mountain. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2010. Print.
Patterson, Eric. On Brokeback Mountain: Meditations about Masculinity, Fear, and Love in the Story and the Film. Plymouth: Lexington, 2008. Print.
Roughton, Ralph. "The Significance of Brokeback Mountain." Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health 18.1 (2014): 83–94. Print.