MFTMLaura Dienslake, Colleen Kjellburg, Haley Libert,

Vince Nowaczyk, Lauren Ulrich

Brokeback Mountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc7Odty5MuM

Movie Overview

The story overall is about a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys and their lives over the years.

The movie was released in September of 2005.

Overview

Heath Ledger as Ennis Del MarJake Gyllenhaal as Jack TwistAnne Hathaway as Lauren NewsomRandy Quaid as Joe AguirreMichelle Williams as Alma

Cast

Ennis gets

divorced

and Jack dies. Ennis keeps

a picture of Jack in his trailer and a shirt

of Jacks hung up.

4 years go by and they arrange to meet again. Their love connection

sparks and they continue to arrange fishing trips to see

each other When the summer ends, the two men go on with their lives. Ennis marries Alma and has two little girls. Jack remains unmarried until he marries a

rich girl named Lureen.

After sharing a cowboy’s backbreaking work load, facing the troubles of the weather and shortages of food and wild

animal attacks, their working friendship eventually develops into something more.

It all starts in the summer of 1963. Two young men (Ennis and Jack) meet when they find work sheep herding for the

summer on Brokeback Mountain

Plot Synopsis

Gay rights are a big issue going on today In this movie, everybody lost because no one ended up

happy. Homosexuals would get beaten to death back then if it

came out so there was no option for Jack and Ennis to be together.

Although we have progressed as a nation into accepting gay rights since the 1960’s, it is still considered controversial.

It is relevant to the younger generation because they are more accepting of change.

Even though this movie was set in an earlier time, it still sheds light on the issue today.

Why is this relevant?

Themes

1960’s – negative attitude towards homosexualityEnnis’s fear of social out lash prevents happy

life with JackJack and Ennis try to conform to society by

marrying women, but fail to achieve happiness

Personal Desires vs. Social Expectations

Marry Get a Job Raise a FamilyPeople who somehow defied this belief were

considered outcasts and were not welcomed in society

Jack and Ennis can be classified as “not straight”, they struggle to fit in and become increasingly frustrated with the forces against them

Ennis is unable to break away from the role society has set for him

The film emphasizes the idea that all family members need to express themselves freely in order to achieve happiness

Conflict in Family

Not associated with “macho men”Jack and Ennis are both depicted as hard

working macho menThey are also cowboys“Macho” men, cowboys, and ranchers are

rarely seen or viewed as being gay, but are usually depicted as being straight and sometimes even homophobic

Homosexuality

HomophobiaEnnis describes his first encounter as a fluke or

a one time thing.Both Ennis and Jack get married to women Jack Aguirre does not re-hire JackEnnis has flashbacks of a rancher being

tortured and killed for beliefs of homosexual activity

Jack encourages Ennis to leave with him to go back to Brokeback Mountain but Ennis refuses.

Homophobia(continued)Ennis tries to push back another meeting with

Jack as the end of a finish trip.Alma, Ennis’ wife, get into a fight over the

fishing trip he goes on, even after they are divorced.

Ennis keeps trying to avoid his real feelings for Jack

In the end Ennis holds the two bloody shirts and says “Jack I swear…” after he asked his daughter if her fiancé really loves her.

Despite the destructive message that some can interpret from the movie, Brokeback Mountain shows the true connection and attractions between two men.

The sex scene is depicted as being a magical and sacred union.

The movie is currently

Pulled from Jordan Commons entertainment complex movie theaters because owner Larry H. Miller claimed the film got away from traditional family values and that it could be dangerous.

Conservative television show hosts such as Bill O’Reilly and John Gibson accused Hollywood of pushing a left wing agenda.

Controversy

Several conservative Christian groups criticized the film harshly even before it’s release.These same groups have accused Hollywood of

pushing a right wing political agenda after movies like Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica received awards and critical acclaim.

Advertisement and marketing for the film avoided showing the homosexual theme of the movie.

Some film critics criticized the Academy Awards as being homophobic for not awarding the movie with the Best Picture.

The relationship between Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar quickly escalates when the boys connect and fall in love with each other on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming, during the summer of 1963This love affair went on for 20 years.

Ennis feared that they would be found out and killed due to societies negative perspectives on homosexualityThe theme of tragedy really shows when Jack

Twist was found out and was beaten to death.

Tragedy

Theme Execution

Ennis is miserable and disengaged from his family

Jack’s marriage is surface level onlyJack and Ennis’s kids suffer

Personal Desire vs. Social Expectations

Ennis…unhappy marriage results in divorce.Strained relationship with his daughters

Jack…anger towards family members.Lashes out at father-in-law

Conflict in Family

Relationship between Jack and Ennis

Homosexuality

A love story that never seems to work outJack and Ennis can’t achieve the one happiness

they’re looking forJack is beaten to death…

Tragedy

Ratings

Laura… 2.5Colleen… 4Haley… 4Vince… 4Lauren… 3