Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- What keeps Jack and Ennis from being together? Discuss the societal pressures and the internal conflicts that pull them apart. How do masculinity and homophobia relate?
- Could these two men have lived together in this time period? What challenges would they face if they continued to pursue a relationship?
- How do the wives react differently when they find out their husbands are having an affair with a man?
- Ennis marries Alma, but has an affair with Jack. What is Ennis attracted to in each person? In what ways are Alma and Jack similar? How are Ennis and Lureen similar?
- How does Brokeback Mountain convey the passage of time? Does the movie feel longer as a result? Or is it fast paced?
- How is Brokeback Mountain like a traditional western story? What makes it different?
- In what ways does the landscape of Wyoming reflect the mental states of Jack and Ennis?
- Why does Jack keep Ennis's shirt? Why does Ennis keep them at the end?
- How would the story be different if it were about two lesbian cowgirls?
- Did Brokeback Mountain deserve to win Best Picture instead of Crash? Why or why not?