How Brokeback affected me

[Brokaholic]

Lizandre,
my french is not the best it has ever been but I understand your story.

L'amour n'est pas facile pour n'importe qui. Pour la poursuite du bonheur il est necessaire etre ouvert a le champ des possibilites même si ceci signifie l'ouverture nous aux occasions pénibles. L'espoir meurt dernier.Je vous souhaite tout le meilleur et j'espère que vous ferez face à et battra vos démons tout comme ennis intérieurs. Au moins pour la plupart d'entre nous le message de BBM n'est pas trop tard.

Brokaholic

[Redbrit]

While the performances are as masterful as the direction I have been utterly awestruck by the story and dialogue in itself. To me thats where it all begins. So firstly, its Proulx, Ossana and McMurtry that I am completely overwhelmed by. They should receive Pulizters for this one.

Does anyone out there know how nominations for the Nobel Prize for Literature get started?  Because that's what I'm thinking they deserve.  Actually, for the awakening of hearts this story has engendered, the Nobel Peace Prize would not be inappropriate.

You philo old mate - it's funny you should say that. As mad as it sounds, that was exactly what I was thinking. That said, the Nobel Peace Prize has been given to some really awful people over the years - maybe the literature prize is a better one - certainly has a better class of winners.

[paintedshoes]

Has a film ever been nominated for the Nobel in any category?  Just wondering, cause I feel, even though I loved the short story, that it is completed by the film.  Could the 2 be nominated together?  That would be heaven for me.

[Redbrit]

I think I may have to admit to flying a kite on the Nobel idea. The Nobel prize for literature is, I think, given to a person for their contribution to literature. Since the latest recipient is Harold Pinter it clearly is not restricted to novelists. The obvious person to be up for it would be Annie Proulx. She is already a recipient of an O. Henry and a Pulitzer, I believe, so the idea isn't ridiculous. That said, there are a lot of great writers out there.

[mcnell1120]

UGH....!!!!  I knew I should have taken French in high school !!!!!!

No parle France'....como tal le vu?..........okay,I'm making an ass of myself...sorry.

[NickInIdaho]

Nick,
 I left out saying bravo.

Brasen Kael.  Wow. Now that is a name for an Annie Proulx story. Pronounced Brazen Kale, it is perhaps the most wonderful name I've ever heard. Too bad Tony, from West Side Story, had not heard Brazen Kael before he heard Maria. Kale is exactly a brazen vegetable full of health and a richness of goodies that is so good for us it deserves the honor you have awknowledged and bestowed. You and your wife's generousity is inspiring and spirited and auspicious that this baby is so extra special.  sagha

Sagha,

Your response leaves me speechless.  We really like his name too - and it really fits him.
All I can say is...thank you!

Nick

[Redbrit]

Kind of related to the above - I just want to reiterate that I think this may be the most important film ever made. The reason I feel like saying it again is the ever-increasing responses I see on this forum and other signs of its cultural impact. The reason I think it's the most important is that it addresses a unique question to gay oppression - visibility. More specifically, it's about making visible the possibility of two men falling and staying in love. It's a simple concept (and hence, to some extent, its power), but it's a story which, as both Ang Lee and Heath Ledger have pointed out, had never been told before. What makes that historic? - I hear you ask. Well, it means that this film has been able to do something - to change people's perceptions - in a way that is utterly unique. Put it this way - no-one ever denied the existence of black people; no-one ever denied the existence of women. The oppression many people face in its whole variety of forms rarely if ever replicates the gay experience of doubting your own identity, your existence. This isn't a pissing contest. Gays' position in society has varied greatly over the centuries while women's position has remained poor for the better part of 5,000 year. We never faced the mass organised economic and dehumanising brutality of the slave trade. This isn't about who has suffered more. But where those other experiences have been portrayed and tackled numerous times over history, with varying degrees of success, this film is the first piece of great art to address this pivotal issue right at the root, without ducking into the use of stereotypes or making it a side-issue. I suppose what I'm saying is that because of the recent nature of the gay movement (essentially post Stonewall - 1969) and the unique nature of the problem of the (internal and external) closet the issue has been uniquely focussed into the film age, as the most complete artform of our time, making possible the emergence of a single artwork that can address this question and burst the dam. I'm posting this here rather than in the 'will it rock the culture' stuff because it feels more appropriate as this thread is about how people feel and are affected etc. In other words it relates to people's experience of (versions of) the closet.

The other thing I want to say briefly - I finally got up the courage to listen to the whole of the soundtrack album. I was right - it reduced me to a tearful wreck just like I knew it would. We really should be rooting for Gustavo Santaolalla at the Oscars too. The mark of great film music is that you are often not aware of it. Given the amount of time without dialogue, the music does become more obvious but never overwhelms the narrative. It simply compliments it perfectly. Gustavo has captured the sense of space amazingly. I can't hear or even think of that falling minor second on the guitar without feeling a powerful emotional tug. Two notes and it can reduce me to tears. Great credit goes to Ang Lee as well. Having received far more music than he expected before filming, he used it as a background to all his preparations. I'm not sure from what he said, but it sounds like he might even have had it playing in the background to some of the filming or at least he got the cast and crew to listen to it first. He certainly talks about their being aware of it. As always, the consumate master takes an unusual turn of events and makes of it serendipity. Lost in awe.

[BillN]

But where those other experiences have been portrayed and tackled numerous times over history, with varying degrees of success, this film is the first piece of great art to address this pivotal issue right at the root, without ducking into the use of stereotypes or making it a side-issue. I suppose what I'm saying is that because of the recent nature of the gay movement (essentially post Stonewall - 1969) and the unique nature of the problem of the (internal and external) closet the issue has been uniquely focussed into the film age, as the most complete artform of our time, making possible the emergence of a single artwork that can address this question and burst the dam. I'm posting this here rather than in the 'will it rock the culture' stuff because it feels more appropriate as this thread is about how people feel and are affected etc. In other words it relates to people's experience of (versions of) the closet.

Redbrit, thanks for saying what I've not been able to say because I could not string the words together so well. With some hindsight, I can see that I understood the impact and felt hugely saddened and lonely, but could not put my finger on why. I can now partially understand - I was feeling the sorrow for every gay man or women across time and circumstance. And the film had brought these feelings on so strongly because it did it with little dialogue and inspired acting.

[Redbrit]

Lizandre,
my french is not the best it has ever been but I understand your story.

L'amour n'est pas facile pour n'importe qui. Pour la poursuite du bonheur il est necessaire etre ouvert a le champ des possibilites même si ceci signifie l'ouverture nous aux occasions pénibles. L'espoir meurt dernier.Je vous souhaite tout le meilleur et j'espère que vous ferez face à et battra vos démons tout comme ennis intérieurs. Au moins pour la plupart d'entre nous le message de BBM n'est pas trop tard.

Brokaholic

Free translation: Love isn't easy for anyone. To pursue happiness it is necessary to be open to a mountain of possibilities even if this means opening ourselves to unhappy outcomes. Hope is the last thing to die. I wish you all the best and I hope that you will face and beat your (inner) demons, so like Ennis's. At least, for most of us the message of BBM is not too late.

[humbled]

Have read a number of responses on this one...and it is nice to see how many people felt similar.
The film made me realize how lucky I am to able to be out...I'm not 100% to everyone, but then thats out of general" if they don't ask" or "its not necessary"! My family & close friends know, I have a partner of 12 years (we've had ups and downs and are apart until the end of this month)
The film has put an ache in my heart, which truly makes me feel humble, sad, and many other emotions.. I cried like a baby the first time.....and I'm 42! At first I felt those emotions overwhelmingly strongly, but after seeing the movie again (several times more...) I have gained strength and hopefully found a new passion about what is truly important in my life! It still aches to think of how two people who needed each other so bad, could not be together. I wonder what Ennis may have decided if he had been able to see Jack again that November...?
I take my hat off to both the main actors, for portraying something so basic, and obviously to us so natural (love between two men) in a way that will haunt me for many years to come.(I know that the director, writer etc all  had a hand in it too, so my hat off to all) Actors and actresses have an amazing gift, when used correctly, that can move mountains, bridge gaps and transfer us to new worlds we never thought could exist. I hope the film gets the Oscars it deserves, but it really wont matter...it is a masterpiece of its time regardless!
I wish i could have had input on a piece of music for the film...there is an Italian song by the now sadly departed Lucio Battisti called E PENSO A TE ( I THINK OF YOU) It was also done in English by Tanita Tikaram. For me the words and sentiments in that song echo the film...the song is a guy (person)  living a "NORMAL"( note the inverted commas....)life and at every point in his day he references this other person he truly wants to be with!
 one line in particular grabs me..
" far beyond the cities lights are two who dream of life, forgive them if they never find their freedom"

Anyhow...i could write forever about this film , my feelings etc, but I think I'll stop!

Hope you all find your freedom, love and happiness...make the most of what you have inside!

 
 

[alma]

[quote author=Lizandre link=topic=101.msg69042#msg69042 date=1141251944

Mais dimanche, c'est la débâcle. J'ai pleuré toute la journée. J'ai découvert ce forum. Je vois demain le film pour la troisème fois. Le bouillonnement s'amplifie, je crois que je vais exploser. Mes murailles et mes défenses s'effondrent, j'ai envie de vivre ma préférence. Enfin.

Merci Lizandre. J'espere que tu trouver d'espoir!

[flyingTom]

Dear Tom from Colorado:

Thank you for sharing with us your own story and your thoughts and feelings about BBM. You raise a lot of important issues about gay life and homophobia in today’s society. I too dislike the stereotypical images spread by the media on gay people. This is why BBM is so important because it challenges those images by offering an alternative vision that shows the human side of gay people, their need for love and companionship and their struggle with intolerance and ignorance in today’s society.

To everyone:

I've been thinking about collecting some of the great stories shared in this forum to be able to review them at a later point in time. Would it make sense to setup a new thread or a shared group space to start collecting some of our own BBM stories for people to read in the future? This may require some editing of the stories to ensure that they can be understood independent of the information in this thread. It will also require some managing skills from Dave Cullen to set things up so that people can start uploading their flushed out stories. Who knows, maybe the collection of stories will eventually be published in a book? Am I going to far? Any thoughts on this idea?

-Tom

[tfferg]

To everyone:

I've been thinking about collecting some of the great stories shared in this forum to be able to review them at a later point in time. Would it make sense to setup a new thread or a shared group space to start collecting some of our own BBM stories for people to read in the future? This may require some editing of the stories to ensure that they can be understood independent of the information in this thread. It will also require some managing skills from Dave Cullen to set things up so that people can start uploading their flushed out stories. Who knows, maybe the collection of stories will eventually be published in a book? Am I going to far? Any thoughts on this idea?

-Tom

Tom
I think it's a great idea well worth exploring and if I could contribute in my small way. I would like to.
Cheers
Tony

[ImEnnisShesJack]

I think it's a great idea!!!

I need to update my Brokeback story and my impact story anyway - since my story hasn't ended and is still unfolding...

I'm almost daring to believe my Brokeback story will have a happy ending....

stay tuned.

[BillN]

I hope your Brokeback story does have a happy ending, but for a collection I think need to have all the types of stories, some of which are not happy. Brokeback tells us what can happen to people who are repressed and that lesson should not be lost.