Oh Sweet Hell!

Brokeback Mountain among other things

My long wait was finally ended last Friday; nearly a week ago, and yet it’s taken me this long to collect my thoughts and post something here. Know that inside I have been keening since I saw it.

Mostly I can say that I agree with Sam (except that Anne Hathaway plays Jake Gyllenhaal’s character’s wife. Michelle William’s character is married to Heath Ledger’s character.)

I was glad to hear from reviews and other people who’ve seen the movie that this is the kind of film that stays with you – you find yourself thinking about it days later, and in some cases randomly crying. I’ve heard it described as haunting, and now I know it’s not just me because I do become singularly obsessed with things.

While I was absolutely impressed with the stellar performances of the lead men (and women) I have to stay what struck me the most was the film’s writing. Having read the short story (stupidly) I knew what was coming much of the time because the movie is so accurate to the story – which isn’t that long! I was mostly blown away by how characters who don’t say a whole lot can reveal so much in every line of dialogue. The subtle double meaning of some of the lines would occur to me much later and give me shivers.

After seeing this movie there is much to think about. My mom was telling me reviewers in newspapers are trying to describe it as not a “gay cowboy movie” or not a gay movie at all, but a film about two people in a relationship – who happen to be gay men. I wonder if it’s even that. The characters certainly don’t identify themselves as gay. More than a topical film about sexuality, or identity – I walked out of the theatre asking myself a more basic question “What is love?”

I can say that I love the film’s tagline “Love is a force of nature” and as someone who’s had experience dealing with the aftermath of the forces of nature in the past year – I have no problem with the comparison. One of the most shocking things about the film as a whole is the violence – and in more than one way, but I feel this tagline is especially appropriate because these two people come together violently.

“When despair grows in me and I wake in the middle of the night at the least
sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go lay down
where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron
feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with the
forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. For a time I rest
in the grace of the world and am free.”

- The Peace of Wild Things, by Wendell Berry.

This quote is part of a “meditation” I prepared for a meeting before Thanksgiving. Coming back to it now, I can’t help but be reminded of Brokeback Mountain and all the beautiful scenes of nature. I think about what it means if love is force of nature. I think about Heath Ledger’s character Ennis who spends his life “in the forethought of grief” and, unfortunately, not without reason. And I sorrow at what some human beings do to other human beings.

Earlier this week I attended a community advocacy training session on GLBT issues – or so it was called. It was an organizers meeting for people interested in the Together Minnesota campaign to stop the state from amending its constitution to basically deny anyone who’s not married any rights similar to the rights of legally recognized couples (I’m not exaggerating.) I was sad to learn that Minnesota has a better chance of keeping this off their ballot in ’06 than my dear home state of Wisconsin.

At the meeting, I was in the process of freaking out over Heath Ledger on the cover of the January issue of The Advocate. (I got my copy free!) and a woman turns to me and says “Have you seen it yet?” No need to explain what we’re talking about. Not in this room. “Yes!” “My wife and I cried for 40 minutes after the movie.” To which I responded “I will never be the same.”

All fondness for hyperbole aside, I believe that is true.

I thought I would include more “issue” material in this post. I tried to write a moving review/editorial that would inspire us all to get more involved in creating change. Or maybe just to get more in touch with the beautiful thinking feeling human beings we are – but if I’ve not succeeded already this post is altogether too long. And if I can’t do that, the best thing I can do is tell you to see the movie and/or read the story which ends with the line

“…but Jack had never asked him to swear anything and he was not the swearing kind.”

The 2nd best thing I have to offer: Friends, ACTORS or not actors, if you’re reading this blog, read this article: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid23334.asp (if you don’t I’ll find you and nail it to your head.)