Over the years, LGBTQ+ representation in the film industry has grown exponentially, but it has not always been that way. One of the first films to break ground in mainstrream LGBTQ+ cinema was Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain. Based on th short story by Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two cowboys who fall in love, and though society tells them that they cannot be together, they cannot help their feelings. Starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams, this award-winning film touched the hearts of many with its tragic love story that lives so fondly in so many people’s hearts.
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As we move through Pride month, one of the best ways to celebrate is to enjoy some of the great LGBTQ+ content that’s been created in the last few decades. As Brokeback Mountain is considered one of the best films ever made — being preserved for its significance in the Library of Congress, per Independent — it’s only fair that we re-watch it and enjoy it for all it is. Remembering Heath Ledger’s heartfelt performance, examining the harsh truths explored throughout the film, and positioning the film in LGBTQ+ cinema history, let’s take a look back at Brokeback Mountain, one of the most groundbreaking queer movies ever made.
Tale as Old as Time Between Two Men
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Part of what makes Ang Lee’s movie so revolutionary is the fact that the story of Brokeback Mountain itself is one that has been told before: two people fall passionately in love, but are unable to be together. Dating back to classic English literature Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, and even farther, the concept of forbidden love has been around for centuries and has become one of the most popular tropes of the romance genre. Brokeback Mountain is a perfect example of the forbidden love trope, but is told from an LGBTQ+ perspective. Jack and Ennis fall in love and despite all the forces working against them, their love still holds strong over the course of many decades. Not only is Brokeback Mountain considered one of the greatest LGBTQ+ romance movies of all time, but it is also considered one of the most romantic films in the history of cinema.
Examines LGBTQ+ Issues in an Impactful Way
One of the greatest tragedies of cinematic history is the death of Jack Twist (Gyllenhal). When Ennis finally makes the decision that he wants to be with Jack, he discovers from Jack’s wife that he died. While this death was said to have been a tragic accident, the reality was that Jack was murdered on the side of the road, presumably because of his queerness. Before this, Ennis spoke about two men who were chased down and killed for being gay when he was just a boy. This may seem to be a rather extreme example of homophobia, but it speaks to the bigotry that ran rampant throughout the Southern United States at the time. The unfortunate reality is that homophobia still exists worldwide today and, in many places, being gay is still considered a crime that could land you in prison. Brokeback Mountain unapologetically shows the harsh treatment that the LGBTQ+ community faces, exposing how people get treated for something as basic as loving someone of the same sex.
Absence of Gay or Bisexual Stereotypes
Ennis and Jack are men who loved each other to their core and while they lead typical lives in the outside world, ultimately, nothing came between their love. While much of Hollywood’s portrayals of LGBTQ+ stories and characters relied on, in the past, many harmful and untrue stereotypes about the queer community, there is a refreshing absence of those elements in Brokeback Mountain. Both Ennis and Jack are shepherds who move animals where they need to go, and when they aren’t doing that, they’re ranching or working a rodeo. Their characterizations aren’t solely defined by their queerness, and they are able to be complex, three-dimensional characters. While some would argue that this is a hindrance and doesn’t accurately represent the community, each individual experience is different. The lack of stereotypical cues helped to open the minds of non-queer movie-goers and challenged them to experience LGBTQ+ characters and stories while letting go of preconceived notions they had been fed by other, poorly executed media.
Changing the Mainstream
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Brokeback Mountain paved the way for queer movies to receive mainstream acclaim from audiences and cortices alike, proving that LGBTQ+ stories were valid, relatable, and far from a niche subgenre. In the years following Brokeback Mountain, other mainstream hits like Milk and The Kids Are All Right widened the scope for audiences, giving non-queer people a glimpse at the multitudes contained within the LGBTQ+ community. Foremost, Brokeback Mountain was also the first LGBTQ+ film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. While the film was a favorite of many, it did not end up winning for Best Picture. This unfortunately was a reminder of the long-standing homophobic attitudes within Hollywood and (some of) the Academy members. Many critics and fans today still feel that Brokeback Mountain’s loss at the Oscars was unjust, as outlined by Vanity Fair, and the only reason that the film did not win Best Picture was simply due to the LGBTQ+ content.
