Friday 27 January, 2006

Heart break

There's a heatwave here in Melbourne, and I lay awake most of the night thinking about Brokeback Mountain, which I saw yesterday afternoon. It is a very, very beautiful, lyrical, emotional, sad film. I can't recommend it highly enough. Heath Ledger is extraordinay, as everyone says, but I think Jake Gyllenhal's performance was fantastic also. Perhaps it's received less attention because he's the more overtly 'gay' character? Basically, it left me wondering (again) why we live in a world where love and connection are not valued and hatred is seen as an admirable, appropriate emotion. And, in the character of Ennis Del Mar, shows us how small and tight our worlds can become if we let fear rule our lives.

It was certainly the right film to see on Australia Day, as I can't celebrate a nation which denies Gay people their rights (along with the rights of so many other groups). I was much happier sitting with Ennis (Heath) and Jack (Jake) and sharing their lives with them.

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