Watching Pedro Almodovar’s short film, Strange Way of Life, a few weeks ago had me seeking out the short story that both this and it’s self-titled feature film were based on, Brokeback Mountain by Annie Prolux.
Firstly, I had no clue this was a short story. In fact, I think only a few years ago is when I learned that the movie was based on anything at all! Crazy. What else was crazy to me was how long they actually managed to make that film. The story itself is only 75 pages, and the rule of thumb for script writing is that every page equates to one minute on screen. This movie is 134 minutes long! They managed to almost double the original page count! And though it’s been a long while since I watched the film, nothing much padded the original story.
Jack and Ennis get work one summer as herders for sheep up in some Wyoming mountains. Eventually, Jack makes a pass at Ennis, and he reciprocates. Their summer for sure got a lot more interesting. And intimate. But by the time the gig was up, they went their separate ways and didn’t try to contact each other for quite some time. About four years later, Ennis receives word that Jack is coming back into town. The only issue is that both of them have created completely new lives for themselves. Ennis is married to Alma, and Jack to Laureen, and both have children and careers of sorts keeping them busy.
Of course, meeting again just sparks all of the feelings they had for each other back then, only maybe even stronger now since it’s been so long and it’s so clear they still love each other. They keep their relationship going in secret for years, and as their personal lives start to fall apart, Jack suggests it’s time for them to just be them together. But being that it’s the late 60s, there’s no way in hell Ennis is going to risk living like that, no matter how much he loves Jack. That’s the final straw for Jack, and tragically, some short time later, the next time Ennis hears about Jack, it’s that he’s been killed.
Obviously, this leads to one of the most heartbreaking scenes, both on the page and in cinema, that has probably ever existed. I think even all the homophobes out there tear up at this scene. It’s Ennis breaking down in the memories they shared and the regrets for not fully committing to their love. Terrific. If you’re looking for a quick read of a classic, I’d say, then give this a go. Or, you could watch the very faithful adaptation again. You’re choice.