Brokeback Mountain
If you've seen the trailer on TV, Brokeback Mountain is the story of two cowboys who fall in love with each other. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good movie or not, but when I saw it, it had a profound effect on me, as well as everyone else I know that saw it. If you have time this winter break, I HIGLY recommend you see it. It will change the way you think about homosexuality, and realize what gay men and women go through on a daily basis.
The first thing I got out of it is that Brokeback Mountain emcompasses every single possible gay scenario of the modern gay man. It contains two Matthew Shepard incidents where gay men are tortured (this took place in the 1960's).
Near the beginning of the movie, the two cowboys, Ennis and Jack, eventually become great friends and moreso fell in love with each other when they are working as cattle herders at Brokeback Mountain one Summer. They shared this bond that was way more than just a friendship. When the Summer was over, each of them went their separate ways, and they didn't say anything about their affection for each other before they left (partially because the whole thing was so new to them). Jack does because he is more open with his feelings, but Ennis is too insecure to. There is a scene of Ennis punching a wall and crying after Jack gets in his truck and leaves.
After that, both men marry a woman and neither are truly happy. Ennis marry's an unattractive woman who he seems to have married to 'do follow the norm' per se. Yes him and his wife have sex, but it is obvious he is unhappy. Jack marries a woman who's family is very successful because they run a business that sells high priced tractors. She spends all her time in her room adding up numbers for the business, while he is unhappy. Both women become pregnant and have kids.
Later, Jack somehow finds Ennis' address, and they schedule a meeting at Ennis house. Ennis is extremely nervous and his wife knows something is up. Jack comes, and while Ennis goes down to meet him, they immediately remember what they had, and they start kissing in what they thought was a secluded spot. Ennis wife opens the front door of the house and sees them kissing, but then she shuts it real quick. Ennis and Jack then left for a weekend at Brokeback Mountain. After this time, they met 4 times a year to go together (because one lived in Texas and the other in Wyoming). Jack wanted to leave his wife and go away with Ennis, but Ennis felt too obligated to his wife, so he decided not to.
The end is the hardest to bear. DON'T READ THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE MOVIE!!! Ennis gets a call from Jack's wife (they divorced), and she told him that he died in a tractor accident. Ennis knew that it was a cover up, and he died a very brutal death by being tortured by 4 men and was left for dead. Ennis finds out that Jack met another guy, and they moved in together at a cabin somewhere around Jack's parents house. Ennis somehow gets a hold of Jack's parents. Jack's dad knew what happened (about Jack being gay, and his death) and disliked Ennis while Jack's mom was more in favor of him and told him to come back to their house when he had time. When Ennis met them at their house, his mom let him go upstairs to Jack's room. Ennis looked in Jack's closet, and in a hidden spot, he found a bloodstained shirt from their first encounter at Brokeback where they got in a fist fight over something. Ennis thought he misplaced his shirt, but it turns out Jack stole it to remember him by. The last scene is of Ennis crying over Jack at his trailer on the bloodstained shirt.
This movie is a movie that I will never forget. Most movies I see and completely forget right after I see them. This movie had such an effect on me that all throughout the week, I've thought about it. It has even driven me to the point of tears a few times. People do not realize some of the milestones gay men and women have to go through to live their lives. Many marry because of society's norm and turn out to be very unhappy, which can lead to divorce. Other strong men and women go with their feelings and look for the right person just like any heterosexual. I am extremely lucky that I met James, because he is the perfect guy for me, and the love of my life. We have been going out almost 8 months now, and it has been awesome living together with him. In about four months, we'll leave Ronnie and move in by ourselves probably in Troy. We are both very excited.
I had an in-depth talk with my counselor, not about the movie, but where my social problems derive from. I have extreme social phobia/anxiety. One major reason behind it is the fear and shame that can haunt many gay individuals. My mind always is thinking what the other person will think of me when they find out I'm gay. 'Will they accept me?' 'Will they reject me?' 'Will they talk behind my back and spread rumors around?' 'Will they be supportive even if they don't agree with it.' I am very lucky because a lot of this is in my head, and the truth of the matter is that I have never been rejected, at least to my face (I know of instances where I have been put down behind my back).
No one realizes how difficult it is for gays to live in the world today. Even though support for gays has increased as society realizes the truth of the matter, one can't know what a gay man or woman goes through until you walk day to day in their shoes. I went through high school hiding it from everyone, as well as myself. I felt shame because it wasn't society's norm. When I went away to Greenville, I said 'fuck it' because I could take it no longer. Since that point in time, during the summer of when I was 19 years old), I came out to everyone and have NEVER regretted it. It was the best closure to be honest to myself , as well as others around me. All the depression and feelings associated with hiding a huge secret all my life left, and I felt so much better. Now that I have found James, it's even more reassuring.
Gay marriage will be legalized in the United States within the next 20 years. You've already heard about California and Boston. Canada, England, and Scandinavian countries have already legalized gay marriage. Most of Western Europe will soon follow (France/Spain), and the US will be one of the last to legalize it.
I encourage you strongly to see this movie because it may change your life. If you're gay or lesbian, you will relate to so much of the movie and realize that you're not alone in your feelings. If you're heterosexual, it will make you more open-minded, and you will realize what every gay man or woman has to face every single day.
The first thing I got out of it is that Brokeback Mountain emcompasses every single possible gay scenario of the modern gay man. It contains two Matthew Shepard incidents where gay men are tortured (this took place in the 1960's).
Near the beginning of the movie, the two cowboys, Ennis and Jack, eventually become great friends and moreso fell in love with each other when they are working as cattle herders at Brokeback Mountain one Summer. They shared this bond that was way more than just a friendship. When the Summer was over, each of them went their separate ways, and they didn't say anything about their affection for each other before they left (partially because the whole thing was so new to them). Jack does because he is more open with his feelings, but Ennis is too insecure to. There is a scene of Ennis punching a wall and crying after Jack gets in his truck and leaves.
After that, both men marry a woman and neither are truly happy. Ennis marry's an unattractive woman who he seems to have married to 'do follow the norm' per se. Yes him and his wife have sex, but it is obvious he is unhappy. Jack marries a woman who's family is very successful because they run a business that sells high priced tractors. She spends all her time in her room adding up numbers for the business, while he is unhappy. Both women become pregnant and have kids.
Later, Jack somehow finds Ennis' address, and they schedule a meeting at Ennis house. Ennis is extremely nervous and his wife knows something is up. Jack comes, and while Ennis goes down to meet him, they immediately remember what they had, and they start kissing in what they thought was a secluded spot. Ennis wife opens the front door of the house and sees them kissing, but then she shuts it real quick. Ennis and Jack then left for a weekend at Brokeback Mountain. After this time, they met 4 times a year to go together (because one lived in Texas and the other in Wyoming). Jack wanted to leave his wife and go away with Ennis, but Ennis felt too obligated to his wife, so he decided not to.
The end is the hardest to bear. DON'T READ THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE MOVIE!!! Ennis gets a call from Jack's wife (they divorced), and she told him that he died in a tractor accident. Ennis knew that it was a cover up, and he died a very brutal death by being tortured by 4 men and was left for dead. Ennis finds out that Jack met another guy, and they moved in together at a cabin somewhere around Jack's parents house. Ennis somehow gets a hold of Jack's parents. Jack's dad knew what happened (about Jack being gay, and his death) and disliked Ennis while Jack's mom was more in favor of him and told him to come back to their house when he had time. When Ennis met them at their house, his mom let him go upstairs to Jack's room. Ennis looked in Jack's closet, and in a hidden spot, he found a bloodstained shirt from their first encounter at Brokeback where they got in a fist fight over something. Ennis thought he misplaced his shirt, but it turns out Jack stole it to remember him by. The last scene is of Ennis crying over Jack at his trailer on the bloodstained shirt.
This movie is a movie that I will never forget. Most movies I see and completely forget right after I see them. This movie had such an effect on me that all throughout the week, I've thought about it. It has even driven me to the point of tears a few times. People do not realize some of the milestones gay men and women have to go through to live their lives. Many marry because of society's norm and turn out to be very unhappy, which can lead to divorce. Other strong men and women go with their feelings and look for the right person just like any heterosexual. I am extremely lucky that I met James, because he is the perfect guy for me, and the love of my life. We have been going out almost 8 months now, and it has been awesome living together with him. In about four months, we'll leave Ronnie and move in by ourselves probably in Troy. We are both very excited.
I had an in-depth talk with my counselor, not about the movie, but where my social problems derive from. I have extreme social phobia/anxiety. One major reason behind it is the fear and shame that can haunt many gay individuals. My mind always is thinking what the other person will think of me when they find out I'm gay. 'Will they accept me?' 'Will they reject me?' 'Will they talk behind my back and spread rumors around?' 'Will they be supportive even if they don't agree with it.' I am very lucky because a lot of this is in my head, and the truth of the matter is that I have never been rejected, at least to my face (I know of instances where I have been put down behind my back).
No one realizes how difficult it is for gays to live in the world today. Even though support for gays has increased as society realizes the truth of the matter, one can't know what a gay man or woman goes through until you walk day to day in their shoes. I went through high school hiding it from everyone, as well as myself. I felt shame because it wasn't society's norm. When I went away to Greenville, I said 'fuck it' because I could take it no longer. Since that point in time, during the summer of when I was 19 years old), I came out to everyone and have NEVER regretted it. It was the best closure to be honest to myself , as well as others around me. All the depression and feelings associated with hiding a huge secret all my life left, and I felt so much better. Now that I have found James, it's even more reassuring.
Gay marriage will be legalized in the United States within the next 20 years. You've already heard about California and Boston. Canada, England, and Scandinavian countries have already legalized gay marriage. Most of Western Europe will soon follow (France/Spain), and the US will be one of the last to legalize it.
I encourage you strongly to see this movie because it may change your life. If you're gay or lesbian, you will relate to so much of the movie and realize that you're not alone in your feelings. If you're heterosexual, it will make you more open-minded, and you will realize what every gay man or woman has to face every single day.