I finally went to see it yesterday. What can I say about a film of that importance? It was epoch-making. Naïve as it may sound of me, the world is never gonna be the same after that film. Okay, it was a small step, but it was an irreversible step forward, and there is no coming back now. Ang Lee the wizard filmed two Hollywood hunks kissing each other, and having sex, like all gay men (and straight as well) do. There was no fear to show affection between them, to show body against body, face against face, the two cowboys burning with desire for each other, having tender moments and emotional turmoils together. Absolutely no fear. From now, in the collective unconscious, we gay men will be less aliens and more included in 'ordinary' life.
I took a long time to see the film, and all of my friends, gay or otherwise, had already seen it before me. I was especially affected by a skeptic remark a (straight but tad cute) office colleague of mine made: 'The story has nothing special to it', and Thiago frowned and shook his head firmly. 'If it weren't for gay protagonists, it would have been just another sugary USA romantic film'. I'm sorry Thiago. The protagonists of Brokeback Mountain ARE gay. And they aren't gays from the SoHo, or Avenida Paulista, or West Hollywood or la Chueca of the 21st century. They were impoverished cowboys in Wyoming in the 60s, a place and a time when Homosexuality was punished with humiliation and a painful outlaw Death Penalty. In many places, far from where Thiago and I live, homosexuals are still condemned to death and humiliation all the time. Just a couple of years ago, an effeminate teenager in Rio de Janeiro was forced by a gang of bullies to jump from the train. And the train was moving at top speed. Because he was gay. The film DOES have a merit for showing a love story between two guys, sugary or not. For countless years, we've had meaningful homosexual stories in books and underground cinema, but this time we made it to Cinemark. All over the planet, people are united, watching two butch, honest men kiss, caress and penetrate each other.
This is recognition. This is respect. This is dignity before society.
I have already commented on the story itself here on the blog, back in January when I read the short story written by Annie Proulx. I read the story about seven times, and yesterday it was as breathtaking as the first time. Ang Lee is definetely impressive. I simply cannot think of another word for him that would do enough justice. I knew some of the dialogues by heart, and repeated them whispering with the actors sometimes, but the way the story was told, especially with the magical Asian way of doing photography and the realistic sceneries, was SO insightful that I think the story now will deserve an eighth reading. I love this tale.
I remember when my boyfriend watched this film last month in Madrid with his North American friend, Angela. The message between the lines (which is naturally different for each of us, however universal the feeling is) brought us much more together. We awakened to the reality that love is rare, beautiful and should not be denied. Until now, everything indicates that 'Brokeback Mountain' has changed our lives forevermore.
In conclusion, I reccomend 'Brokeback Mountain' to every human being on Earth. This film is an achievement of the whole Humankind, and surrendering to the amazing power of this story will change anyone's life for the better and forever. Lose your mind. Do not criticize. Just go and watch it.
If you are tough enough for that, naturally.
I took a long time to see the film, and all of my friends, gay or otherwise, had already seen it before me. I was especially affected by a skeptic remark a (straight but tad cute) office colleague of mine made: 'The story has nothing special to it', and Thiago frowned and shook his head firmly. 'If it weren't for gay protagonists, it would have been just another sugary USA romantic film'. I'm sorry Thiago. The protagonists of Brokeback Mountain ARE gay. And they aren't gays from the SoHo, or Avenida Paulista, or West Hollywood or la Chueca of the 21st century. They were impoverished cowboys in Wyoming in the 60s, a place and a time when Homosexuality was punished with humiliation and a painful outlaw Death Penalty. In many places, far from where Thiago and I live, homosexuals are still condemned to death and humiliation all the time. Just a couple of years ago, an effeminate teenager in Rio de Janeiro was forced by a gang of bullies to jump from the train. And the train was moving at top speed. Because he was gay. The film DOES have a merit for showing a love story between two guys, sugary or not. For countless years, we've had meaningful homosexual stories in books and underground cinema, but this time we made it to Cinemark. All over the planet, people are united, watching two butch, honest men kiss, caress and penetrate each other.
This is recognition. This is respect. This is dignity before society.
I have already commented on the story itself here on the blog, back in January when I read the short story written by Annie Proulx. I read the story about seven times, and yesterday it was as breathtaking as the first time. Ang Lee is definetely impressive. I simply cannot think of another word for him that would do enough justice. I knew some of the dialogues by heart, and repeated them whispering with the actors sometimes, but the way the story was told, especially with the magical Asian way of doing photography and the realistic sceneries, was SO insightful that I think the story now will deserve an eighth reading. I love this tale.
I remember when my boyfriend watched this film last month in Madrid with his North American friend, Angela. The message between the lines (which is naturally different for each of us, however universal the feeling is) brought us much more together. We awakened to the reality that love is rare, beautiful and should not be denied. Until now, everything indicates that 'Brokeback Mountain' has changed our lives forevermore.
In conclusion, I reccomend 'Brokeback Mountain' to every human being on Earth. This film is an achievement of the whole Humankind, and surrendering to the amazing power of this story will change anyone's life for the better and forever. Lose your mind. Do not criticize. Just go and watch it.
If you are tough enough for that, naturally.
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