This movie has been a buzz long before it is really played in the theater. Brokeback Mountain is based on a short story by E. Annie Proulx. Ang Lee, the Oscar-winner, is the director for this beautiful movie. Obviously, he does not disappoint any of us.

Brokeback Mountain is the first gay movie that is played in the mainstream. It shows another side of gay men besides those stereotypes of party goers, sex addicting and drug users.

Two men, with a totally different background, fall in love with each other during the summer of 1963. Brokeback mountain in Wyoming is the place that these two young men Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger) plant their love when they work as sheep ranch hands. They separate that summer but they always keep each other in their heart. Both go different way but, love is a force of nature, it brings these two men back together.

It ends up with a tragedy. But it’s a tragedy that reinforces love and memory. It’s a tragedy of people who are bigoted towards true love between two men. It’s also a tragedy of true love that is defeated by the social taboo.

There are many things I love about this movie. Every scene in this movie is so beautiful, in particular, when they are taking an odd job on Brokeback Mountain. It reminds me of my trip to the Yellowstone National Park. Also, this movie portrays the real and raw emotions of gay people as human being that are capable of having a true love like other straight people do.

This movie does not try to send the message about gay issues like equal right or asking for mercy for gay people. It just simply tells a beautiful love story of two souls who happen to be the same sex but deeply in love with each other and have to live their life the way the society expects them to be.

To taste the fruit of happiness, one has to endure the pain of love.

Brokeback Mountain might not be the blockbuster because the group of open minded people is still small but indeed it deserves seven Golden Globe nominations. Heath Ledger might be the biggest star this year because his performance is a mind-blowing.

Talking about the Oscar? It might be a long short. There are still some people who do not want to see this beautiful story to be an Oscar winner or even nominated. Right? Focus on the Family?

Tae Athikomvittaya