Five years ago when Brokeback Mountain was released it ripped across the boundaries of the American Western. Its timing was perfect -- the right's rhetoric against gay America was at a fever pitch lynching equality with fear and hate. Brokeback challenged the negativity, soaring across the country in a swarm of delightful, synergistic controversy.
Unexpected love inevitably leaves people asking questions. Brokeback Montain reminds me of George Stevens' A Place in the Sun -- two lovers so perfect together they stopped the clock at a party dance -- only in the end to run of time. Brokeback's tale of star-crossed lovers struck a rabbit-punch in the belly of the homophobic national dialogue. As Washington was defending marriage from the homosexual, Brokeback was showing gay men were already betrothed. Hollywood was holding up a clearer mirror but America was confused by the reflection. Uh-oh, someone had to answer the questions.
Dave Cullen created The Ultimate Brokeback Forum where a community of theatregoers and downright fans could post about the film, the short story, and all things Brokeback. The posts show truths buried deep in the heart of some unhappy married men. The forum was catharsis for conversation about marriage, manhood, stereotypes and hate.
The Autry National Center of the American West, will commemorate the film this Saturday, December 11th. At 3:00 p.m. they will present a staged reading, scripted by Gregory Hinton, based on the book Beyond Brokeback -- a collection of selected posts from Dave Cullen's inspired forum. This reading will be preceded by a 35mm screening of Brokeback Mountain at 11:30 a.m..
The day promises benevolence and western wonderment for gentle souls, and frustration and anger for miserable people who think of gay people negatively. Get over it, you might be married to one!
You can find Shawn Kirschner's album here.
I can understand the need by many to continue the dialogue about this story and encourage them to do so. I just hope it doesn't become a "cult" --- like people who collect "Gone with the Wind" trinkets or who go to "Star Trek" conventions. The original story and the film adaptation were such thoughtful, intelligent, and RESTRAINED works --- it could be very easy for this to become overused as a symbol of the gay struggle and I love the story so much that I think that would be a tragedy.
I carry the story of the fictional characters of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in my heart, much as I do other characters of great literature --- Sydney Carton, Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, Gatsby and Daisy, and so on. I hope those who share this affection for "Brokeback Mountain" will allow it to stand the test of time --- not push it down people's throats but just keep gently promoting this gentle story until it naturally takes its place among the great literature of our time.