BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)
Ang Lee
In 1963, two young men are hired as ranch hands in the Wyoming mountains. During the long months of isolation, they begin to bond. Their bonding experience turns into a passionate encounter on one of their cold nights on the mountains. When the season ends, they part ways, only to realise how deeply they feel for one another. A decades-long affair arises between them, one of which they both desperately try to hide from the people around them.The affair remains both beautiful and devastating.
Analysed excerpt (0:05 – 2:28) from Brokeback Mountain “I wish I knew how to quit you” quote scene
Throughout the scene:
No non-diegetic sound in the scene
Diegetic sounds are present
Dialogue
Both Ennis and Jack are wearing winter clothes and “cowboy hats/gear”
1. 0:05 – 0:27
LS – TRACKING SHOT
Ennis and Jack are packing cars/moving items from Ennis’ car to Jack’s car. Packing up from their secret romantic trip together. No dialogue or music. Shot tracks to Jack and Ennis at Jack’s vehicle. This gives flow in the scene of moving items one place to another. LS becomes MS with Jack and Ennis in frame. As Jack moves closer to the opened front door of his car, his face becomes framed by the car door window. He is now in CU view. Ennis is captured out of focus in background. The focal point is Jack, he is upset to be leaving. As well as seeing this due to the closeness to his facial expressions, he also lets out a sigh to remind viewers of the struggle he finds in leaving Ennis again.
2. 0:27 – 0:44
MS – STILL CAMERA
Shot from behind Ennis (out of focus) capturing and focusing on Jack in background. Captures the two characters looking at the ground. Ennis displays more reserved body language (throughout the film he remains a relatively silent character). To see the two in the shot, creates a comparison in terms of the feelings they’re expressing so an audience can make judgement of the scale of emotion between Jack and Ennis. Jack, seemingly annoyed, attempts looking at Ennis but he hangs his head. Jack’s arm on the frame of the window, hand on hip tells us Jack is wanting to state his authority, he seems to be waiting for Ennis to say something or react, be more open. Jack, talking about heading home announces he will “See the folks for a day or two” and tries to get Ennis’ attention at this point by looking up at him, Ennis does not look him in the eye. Mention of family may render Ennis to feel awkward because they are hiding their homosexual love affair where parents will never be met. Captures the arm positioning of the two, in pockets or fiddling with things. This shot captures more gesture in its shot than dialogue to express emotions.
3. 0:44 – 0:48
CU – STILL CAMERA
Jack now in foreground. Ennis in back ground. Ennis begins talking, fiddling with the side of the back door handle of Jack’s car. “There’s been something I need to tell you, bud.” (Ennis refers to him as “bud” which is more friendship based – takes back from the intimacy they’ve previously shared). As well as this dialogue the positioning of characters from the camera has applied a feel that Ennis is attempting to become more detached.
4. 0:48 – 0:51
MS – STILL CAMERA
Back to focus on Jack in background. Ennis’ back in shot, Jack now moved to face Ennis as he begins to tell him something seemingly important. Jack rests his elbow on the door of the car’s window frame. Shot chosen expresses that Jack’s attention is captured by Ennis announcing something in such a manner, referring to him in a more ‘friendly’ way.
5. 0:51 – 0:55
CU – STILL CAMERA
Back to Ennis’ face as only character in shot. Finally looks up to reach Jack’s eye contact. The shot is used to emphasise that this is something important/personal which Ennis needs to address with Jack. Dialogue of “it’s likely November before I can some back here again.” The shot captures closely the fact he has eventually looked at Jack in the eye.
6. 0:55 – 1:01
CU – STILL CAMERA
Shows Jack’s face only to show his reaction to the sad news. Ennis talking as the shot remains focused on only Jack. Expresses to audience Jack’s reaction to the news.
7. 1:01 – 1:05
CU – STILL CAMERA
Ennis’ face, looking back to the ground. He too is upset/ashamed at the circumstances and how it may make Jack feel. We see he cannot face him entirely. Close up catches detailed facial expression of Ennis. Shot captures Ennis biting his nails, nervously. The camera angle just captures one eye from under his hat looking up at Jack again. Shows a timid depiction of Ennis.
8. 1:05 – 1:09
CU – STILL CAMERA
Jack’s face he questions, “November?”
9. 1:09 – 1:11
CU – STILL CAMERA
Ennis’ face. Shuffling side to side nervously in shot. Mumbles “yeah.”
10. 1:11 – 1:15
CU – STILL CAMERA
Jack’s face seeming upset/annoyed. Jack’s voice louder than Ennis’ by a mile, “Well what in the hell ever happened to August?”
11. 1:15 – 1:18
CU – STILL CAMERA
Ennis looking around, shuffling, mumbled response “well…” puts nails/fingers to mouth again. Shot captures this nervous behaviour. A lot of silence in this shot.
12. 1:18 – 1:32
M/LS – STILL CAMERA
Captures the two leaning against Jack’s car. Jack moves off and uses his arm against the door to move from the car “Christ, Ennis” he says as he slams the car door and walks around it. His hands are on his hips and he’s now facing away from Jack. This perspective of coverage allows for the change in body language which each character is displaying toward one another, to be seen. Jack turns to Ennis “you know you’ve had a f**king week to say a word about this.” Ennis looks down, the two are now positioned closer and facing one another. Ennis looks back to the ground possibly ashamed/worried Jack would react like this.
13. 1:32 – 1:38
MID/CU – SLIGHT LOW ANGLE – STILL CAMERA TO TRACKING SHOT
Portraying Jack asserting dominance in the argument. The shot is from behind Jack. Ennis is out of focus and in the background.
Pan/track of Jack begins from the side to back of him, as he walks towards the lake. Jack is asking about why they always are somewhere cold and saying they ought to go somewhere where it’s warm.
14. 1:38 – 1:49
M/S – TRACKING (ON DOLLY?)
Jack walking towards river, front on. “We ought to go to Mexico” he announces, angrily. He walks toward the camera, becomes a CU on his face. He walks past the vision of the camera. Ennis is now in shot from the background as Jack exits. This allows for focus on Ennis as he begins to speak, “Mexico?” Ennis’ hands are in his pockets and it has become a L / M/S. Ennis walks towards Jack by the lake. He is talking as he walks toward him.
AT THIS POINT WE SEE A DEGREE OF SEPARATION OF THE TWO THROUGH CAMERA SHOTS, THE SHOTS HAVE CAPTURED THE CHARACTERS BLOCKED FURTHER AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND FREQUENTLY FACING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER.
15. 1:49 – 1:53
L/S – STILL CAMERA
Jack looking out to the lake, his back facing the camera. Ennis is not in the shot. Shows he is taking in the information he’s been told. He is reflecting. Possible symbolism of the lake and the idea of reflection.
16. 1:53 – 2:17
CU – HIGH ANGLE – PANNING (AROUND JACK)
Camera slowly swinging around to the left of Jack’s head as he looks on to the lake. Ennis in facing him in the background, very out of focus. Jack is on higher ground therefore is clearly depicted being above Ennis. Ennis is asking “come on jack, lighten up on me.” Trying to soften the damage of the situation as he realises how strongly Jack feels about this news. Jack becomes out of focus, Ennis asks, “we could hunt in November?” Jack still looks upon the lake. Jack remains out of focus and on the right side of the shot. Ennis is depicted rather far away in the background – shows a level of separation between the two at this point. They are at different positions in their lives – a proposition of what is to come at their separation (as this news has explained that explicitly). Ennis “kill some nice elk?” camera sways back to the right to face Jack and hide Ennis behind his head in background. We then see Ennis appear on the right in the background as Jack is in focus and announces “there ain’t never enough time, never enough time” in a day-dreaming depressive tone.
17 2:17 – 2:28
LS – STILL CAMERA
Jack facing the lake. Turns around to face Ennis and begins talking to him. Hands on hips. Assertive. Shows the distance between them and is from the POV of Ennis.