Topic: Significane of Ennis entering the Tent *Spoiler*

[christie wood]

I love coming back to this thread to see all the new thoughts and feelings over this amazing scene.....gets me every single time.   

There's one thing I noticed on my latest viewing, and it may have been picked up already, and if so I apologise.  When Ennis first comes into the tent, and Jack sits up, he places his hand on Ennis' arm, virtually straightaway.  I love that.  I love the fact that Jack knows instinctively what he wants to do, which is to be close to Ennis, be touching Ennis and it's as if its what he's been longing to do ever since FNIT.  Its also a reassuring touch too, to let Ennis know that its ok, everything's going to be ok, and that Jack is glad that Ennis has taken that step into the tent.

I never thought about that before, christie, but you're totally right.  Jack gives Ennis a non-threatening touch to get started, to get him used to being touched with his eyes wide open (so to speak!).  Jack both shows him his attraction/love here and reassures him.  What a guy. 

shieldmaid, you explained this so much better than I did.  You are exactly right....that touch on the arm is non-threatneing and reassuring, but there's a very intimate element to it, which leads on to Jack taking Ennis' hat away and then touching his face, before the kiss.  I'd never actually thought about it as "getting used to being touched with his eyes wide open".....I know what you mean and it makes perfect sense.  Jack wanted to show Ennis what real intimacy was, and that was all about touch, and looks, and feelings.....they are all on show here.  Thanks shieldmaid.

[shieldmaid]

Yes, I agree, christie.    And it's so important, too, that Jack keeps *looking* at Ennis--Ennis can hardly return his gaze at first, but here they're finally getting to know one another with their eyes, as well as with hands, lips, chests, and other body parts. . . .

Is it getting HOT in here??  Whew!

[karen1129]

Yes, I agree, christie.    And it's so important, too, that Jack keeps *looking* at Ennis--Ennis can hardly return his gaze at first, but here they're finally getting to know one another with their eyes, as well as with hands, lips, chests, and other body parts. . . .

Is it getting HOT in here??  Whew!

Yes, because I just got thru watching SNIT in slo mo.
I need water!

They really didn't hold back on that kiss, did they?

[mactwck]

Yes, I agree, christie.    And it's so important, too, that Jack keeps *looking* at Ennis--Ennis can hardly return his gaze at first, but here they're finally getting to know one another with their eyes, as well as with hands, lips, chests, and other body parts. . . .

Is it getting HOT in here??  Whew!

Yes, because I just got thru watching SNIT in slo mo.
I need water!

They really didn't hold back on that kiss, did they?

No Karen they didn't, Thank God. I would have loved to have seen the "dress rehersals!"  Maybe Ennis was just as effected as the rest of us with Jack's tongue and he could not wait to taste it!
Whew!  Need more ice over here!!

[karen1129]

Yes, I agree, christie.    And it's so important, too, that Jack keeps *looking* at Ennis--Ennis can hardly return his gaze at first, but here they're finally getting to know one another with their eyes, as well as with hands, lips, chests, and other body parts. . . .

Is it getting HOT in here??  Whew!

Yes, because I just got thru watching SNIT in slo mo.
I need water!

They really didn't hold back on that kiss, did they?

No Karen they didn't, Thank God. I would have loved to have seen the "dress rehersals!"  Maybe Ennis was just as effected as the rest of us with Jack's tongue and he could not wait to taste it!
Whew!  Need more ice over here!!

The way Jack looked down into Ennis' face right before that good ole open mouth,
slurping kiss !  Holy Moly..... 
I need a smoke.

[mactwck]

Yes, I agree, christie.    And it's so important, too, that Jack keeps *looking* at Ennis--Ennis can hardly return his gaze at first, but here they're finally getting to know one another with their eyes, as well as with hands, lips, chests, and other body parts. . . .

Is it getting HOT in here??  Whew!

Yes, because I just got thru watching SNIT in slo mo.
I need water!

They really didn't hold back on that kiss, did they?

No Karen they didn't, Thank God. I would have loved to have seen the "dress rehersals!"  Maybe Ennis was just as effected as the rest of us with Jack's tongue and he could not wait to taste it!
Whew!  Need more ice over here!!

The way Jack looked down into Ennis' face right before that good ole open mouth,
slurping kiss !  Holy Moly..... 
I need a smoke.

I know this is OT but I love the way Jack smokes.  Cigarettes...ok he is just smokin'.

[karen1129]

Think they had a smoke after SNIT?

[mactwck]

Think they had a smoke after SNIT?

I think the tent was already on fire.  I think that if they smoked after every time they made love, the whole forrest would have been covered with butts.

[shieldmaid]

Didn't someone say they did 12 takes of this scene or something (or was that FNIT)??  I'd give a lot to see the other 11 too. 

Anyway, back on topic--I love the way they're barely tasting one another at the beginning of the kiss, but then they let themselves go . . . Jack kisses Ennis's forehead, smoothes back his hair, Ennis clutches Jack, strokes his chest--and finally they drink one another in, lying on top of one another, totally immersed in one another from head to toe.

Mmmm!

And one of the most touching scenes I have ever witnessed.   

[mactwck]

Now if only the scene had lasted another couple of minutes.  Can not get enough of the tenderness.

[karen1129]

Didn't someone say they did 12 takes of this scene or something (or was that FNIT)??  I'd give a lot to see the other 11 too. 

Anyway, back on topic--I love the way they're barely tasting one another at the beginning of the kiss, but then they let themselves go . . . Jack kisses Ennis's forehead, smoothes back his hair, Ennis clutches Jack, strokes his chest--and finally they drink one another in, lying on top of one another, totally immersed in one another from head to toe.

Mmmm!

And one of the most touching scenes I have ever witnessed.   

The way Jack's lips just move back on forth on En's forehead  :`)

[shieldmaid]

karen, you are so right--I LOVE that.  He kisses Ennis's forehead like he's never seen/felt anything so precious before.

[frances]

My favourite moment is Jack's "It's all right...it's all right". So heartbreaking in a way because you realize that they may have been the most loving words anyone had ever said to Ennis in his life, up to that point.

[welshwitch]

Other than Ennis's memory of his mother when he was small, these seem to be the first moments of tenderness - maybe prefigured by Jack trying to clean up Ennis's face after the bear incident - that either of them has ever felt. Annie Proulx creates a sense of deprivation and coldness in all sorts of ways in her ss, but the movie does the same in quite differnt ways, and this is one of them.

[christie wood]

Didn't someone say they did 12 takes of this scene or something (or was that FNIT)??  I'd give a lot to see the other 11 too. 

Anyway, back on topic--I love the way they're barely tasting one another at the beginning of the kiss, but then they let themselves go . . . Jack kisses Ennis's forehead, smoothes back his hair, Ennis clutches Jack, strokes his chest--and finally they drink one another in, lying on top of one another, totally immersed in one another from head to toe.

Mmmm!

And one of the most touching scenes I have ever witnessed.   

I'm loving all these comments about this gorgeous and hot scene.....I was getting hot just reading all your comments!!!  And not just cos you were talking about smoking.   

But yes, Shieldmaid, you express yourself so well again....better than I could.  The first SNIT kiss compared to the next one, when they are lying down, is so gentle, and the way Ennis initially hesitates....to me, its Ennis saying "ok, I want this, I want Jack, but I shouldnt want it, but I cannot stop myself....here goes"......so after that first initial kiss, and they stop to take  it in, to take each other in, with the gentle touch of their foreheads together, and Jack's beautiful reassuring words, they lie down, and Jake envelopes Ennis in his arms, and Ennis looks like he has been waiting for this moment all of his life.   He clings on to Jack with such intensity, its breathtaking.  And Jack just allows him to explore, to touch, because he realises what this means for Ennis, as well as for him.

That second kiss is just something else though.....Ennis is lying back, opening himself up to Jack, ready to receive what Jack wants to give him.   

I love that bit right at the end, when they stop kissing for a second, and just look at each other, with their faces still touching......pure beauty and I agree with you shieldmaid, one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes I have ever seen.

[shieldmaid]

I'm loving all these comments about this gorgeous and hot scene.....I was getting hot just reading all your comments!!!  And not just cos you were talking about smoking.   

But yes, Shieldmaid, you express yourself so well again....better than I could.  The first SNIT kiss compared to the next one, when they are lying down, is so gentle, and the way Ennis initially hesitates....to me, its Ennis saying "ok, I want this, I want Jack, but I shouldnt want it, but I cannot stop myself....here goes"......so after that first initial kiss, and they stop to take  it in, to take each other in, with the gentle touch of their foreheads together, and Jack's beautiful reassuring words, they lie down, and Jake envelopes Ennis in his arms, and Ennis looks like he has been waiting for this moment all of his life.   He clings on to Jack with such intensity, its breathtaking.  And Jack just allows him to explore, to touch, because he realises what this means for Ennis, as well as for him.

That second kiss is just something else though.....Ennis is lying back, opening himself up to Jack, ready to receive what Jack wants to give him.   

I love that bit right at the end, when they stop kissing for a second, and just look at each other, with their faces still touching......pure beauty and I agree with you shieldmaid, one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes I have ever seen.

christie, you are too kind!!  And your description of their embrace here is just gorgeous--they "take each other in," "Ennis has been waiting for this moment all of his life," Jack just allows him to explore": my heart is melting.     I really love the idea that Jack sort of takes Ennis under his wing here and coaxes him into letting go.  Although Ennis took the initiative to go into the tent, it's Jack who lets him know that he'll be taken care of, that the tent is a safe and private place for the two of them, and that he loves Ennis in a uniquely tender way.  Ennis isn't afraid to let Jack see who he really is, in the end, because Jack shelters him (I can't help quoting HI here: "Ennis never knew where he got the courage to get up and go into the tent, but the reward for his daring was the unexpected release of being cradled in Jack's strong arms.").

[christie wood]

I'm loving all these comments about this gorgeous and hot scene.....I was getting hot just reading all your comments!!!  And not just cos you were talking about smoking.   

But yes, Shieldmaid, you express yourself so well again....better than I could.  The first SNIT kiss compared to the next one, when they are lying down, is so gentle, and the way Ennis initially hesitates....to me, its Ennis saying "ok, I want this, I want Jack, but I shouldnt want it, but I cannot stop myself....here goes"......so after that first initial kiss, and they stop to take  it in, to take each other in, with the gentle touch of their foreheads together, and Jack's beautiful reassuring words, they lie down, and Jake envelopes Ennis in his arms, and Ennis looks like he has been waiting for this moment all of his life.   He clings on to Jack with such intensity, its breathtaking.  And Jack just allows him to explore, to touch, because he realises what this means for Ennis, as well as for him.

That second kiss is just something else though.....Ennis is lying back, opening himself up to Jack, ready to receive what Jack wants to give him.   

I love that bit right at the end, when they stop kissing for a second, and just look at each other, with their faces still touching......pure beauty and I agree with you shieldmaid, one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes I have ever seen.

christie, you are too kind!!  And your description of their embrace here is just gorgeous--they "take each other in," "Ennis has been waiting for this moment all of his life," Jack just allows him to explore": my heart is melting.     I really love the idea that Jack sort of takes Ennis under his wing here and coaxes him into letting go.  Although Ennis took the initiative to go into the tent, it's Jack who lets him know that he'll be taken care of, that the tent is a safe and private place for the two of them, and that he loves Ennis in a uniquely tender way.  Ennis isn't afraid to let Jack see who he really is, in the end, because Jack shelters him (I can't help quoting HI here: "Ennis never knew where he got the courage to get up and go into the tent, but the reward for his daring was the unexpected release of being cradled in Jack's strong arms.").

I love the idea of Ennis being coaxed by Jack into letting go, because Jack is there to take care of him.  That brings me back to Jack touching Ennis tenderly on the arm as he first comes into the tent....Jack would know how nervous Ennis would be feeling, but the fact that Ennis made that first move lets Jack know that Ennis wants to be there with him....so a little touch from Jack like that would ensure Ennis knew he was welcome and wanted more than anything.

And that quote from HI is perfect isnt it?  "the unexpected release...." what a wonderful way of describing how Ennis must have felt...it must have felt like a release to him, letting go all those pent up fears and thoughts, and just holding Jack and being held by Jack, it must have felt like he was in the place he had wanted to be in all his life....the right place.   

You really echo a lot of my thoughts shieldmaid, and I love reading your posts.   

[shieldmaid]

I love the idea of Ennis being coaxed by Jack into letting go, because Jack is there to take care of him.  That brings me back to Jack touching Ennis tenderly on the arm as he first comes into the tent....Jack would know how nervous Ennis would be feeling, but the fact that Ennis made that first move lets Jack know that Ennis wants to be there with him....so a little touch from Jack like that would ensure Ennis knew he was welcome and wanted more than anything.

And that quote from HI is perfect isnt it?  "the unexpected release...." what a wonderful way of describing how Ennis must have felt...it must have felt like a release to him, letting go all those pent up fears and thoughts, and just holding Jack and being held by Jack, it must have felt like he was in the place he had wanted to be in all his life....the right place.   

You really echo a lot of my thoughts shieldmaid, and I love reading your posts.   

christie,  I love reading your posts, too!  You always capture the essence of these wonderful scenes.    This is a truly touching idea, too, that Jack brings Ennis to the place he has always wanted to be.  Perhaps that's what they most importantly represented to one another--the only place where they could be safe, could truly be themselves.  No one else ever saw the real Jack and Ennis, since they were only that to each other.  Sad, in the end, since they didn't get to spend their lives together, but SNIT shows us their true selves, in the home they built together.

I'm going to cry!!   :\'(

p.s. OT, I know: Once again, I should be working--but this is one of my very favorite threads.  I could talk about the nuances of SNIT all day long . . . .

[christie wood]

I love the idea of Ennis being coaxed by Jack into letting go, because Jack is there to take care of him.  That brings me back to Jack touching Ennis tenderly on the arm as he first comes into the tent....Jack would know how nervous Ennis would be feeling, but the fact that Ennis made that first move lets Jack know that Ennis wants to be there with him....so a little touch from Jack like that would ensure Ennis knew he was welcome and wanted more than anything.

And that quote from HI is perfect isnt it?  "the unexpected release...." what a wonderful way of describing how Ennis must have felt...it must have felt like a release to him, letting go all those pent up fears and thoughts, and just holding Jack and being held by Jack, it must have felt like he was in the place he had wanted to be in all his life....the right place.   

You really echo a lot of my thoughts shieldmaid, and I love reading your posts.   

christie,  I love reading your posts, too!  You always capture the essence of these wonderful scenes.    This is a truly touching idea, too, that Jack brings Ennis to the place he has always wanted to be.  Perhaps that's what they most importantly represented to one another--the only place where they could be safe, could truly be themselves.  No one else ever saw the real Jack and Ennis, since they were only that to each other.  Sad, in the end, since they didn't get to spend their lives together, but SNIT shows us their true selves, in the home they built together.

I'm going to cry!!   :\'(

p.s. OT, I know: Once again, I should be working--but this is one of my very favorite threads.  I could talk about the nuances of SNIT all day long . . . .

Oh me too...this is a wonderful thread, and isnt it fantastic that we have this opportunity to talk about it for as long and as much as we want to!!!!

I was thinking about what Jake said on the logo special about Ennis and Jack being together on the mountain, that this was their special place, it was private, just the two of them, where they could be together alone.  I think that's why Ennis reacted the way he did when Jack told him they had to leave the mountain.  Sorry that was o/t I know.  Anyway, the mountain is their special place, and that's why Ennis was able to enter that tent, knowing Jack was there waiting for him, because this was something so special and sacred to them, Ennis knew that noone else knew about them, and so he was able to open himself up more than he ever thought possible.

I loved too the bit before he enters the tent, Ennis looking over to Jack, seeing Jack get undressed.  Ennis was making a decision, a decision that was going to change his life forever. 

I think I may start crying too shieldmaid!!!    :\'(  :\'(

[karen1129]

You knew when he looked over at Jack in the tent he was going in there.
I'm sure he was sitting there thinking...... "what do I do once I get in there".
Again.....   no instruction manual needed !

[shieldmaid]

christie, I know what you mean: it's one of my favorite parts of that scene, when Ennis glances over at Jack getting ready in the tent behind him.  I hardly know where to look at that point--should we look at Ennis nervously twisting his hands together by the fire, or should we watch the shirtless Jack arranging his clothes inside the tent??  It's wonderful to see how Ennis is so nervous he can barely even look at Jack from outside the tent, when Jack can't see him, yet he somehow gathers the courage to enter and be taken into Jack's arms.  I love how Ennis rises so slowly, his hands on his thighs, and walks to the tent with his head slightly lowered.  His hat shields him--but only until Jack gently takes it away so they can shield each other.

 

[keren_b]

This decision to go inside was so hard for him because going in the tent is actually saying "I want you", and Ennis Del Mar was no queer, so how could he possibly want another man?...

But the beautiful thing in this scene is how they understood each other without words. After all, Ennis could've gone in there and say "hell, that was really good, and we ain't got no women here..." or just flip Jack on his stomach and go at it like in FNIT. but he didn't, because this time he needed something different, something more, and Jack knew it. The minute Ennis entered the tent, Jack knew he was there for more than just sex. When he laid his hand on Ennis's arm and looked into his eyes, it was like he was saying "I knew you'd come, I know what you want. it's okay". Ennis didn't need words because Jack understood him. and then, in the way they looked at each other and touched and kissed each other, they were exposing their deepest feelings and telling each other that "this thing" they have is much more than sex, much much more.

[welshwitch]

One of the reasons we all focus on this scene so intently is because it's rare to see, in a movie or elsewhere, two people actually falling in love in front of your eyes - and that's what happens here.

[mactwck]

One of the reasons we all focus on this scene so intently is because it's rare to see, in a movie or elsewhere, two people actually falling in love in front of your eyes - and that's what happens here.

Absolutely.  There was no kissing the FNIT, just animal lust.  Anyone can have sex, but the kissing in the SNIT goes to show the love.  Kissing is such an initmate act.  I love the cuddling, heads touching, small kisses on Ennis's forehead, geez...now I am bawling like a baby.

[christie wood]

This decision to go inside was so hard for him because going in the tent is actually saying "I want you", and Ennis Del Mar was no queer, so how could he possibly want another man?...

But the beautiful thing in this scene is how they understood each other without words. After all, Ennis could've gone in there and say "hell, that was really good, and we ain't got no women here..." or just flip Jack on his stomach and go at it like in FNIT. but he didn't, because this time he needed something different, something more, and Jack knew it. The minute Ennis entered the tent, Jack knew he was there for more than just sex. When he laid his hand on Ennis's arm and looked into his eyes, it was like he was saying "I knew you'd come, I know what you want. it's okay". Ennis didn't need words because Jack understood him. and then, in the way they looked at each other and touched and kissed each other, they were exposing their deepest feelings and telling each other that "this thing" they have is much more than sex, much much more.

"Ennis didnt need words because Jack understood him"
Oh Keren, what lovely words.....that is so true.   Jack did understand him.   He knew that Ennis wanted more than the FNIT....he wanted deeper intimacy with Jack.  But he needed Jack to show him.

[mrskutz]

Sorry gals,
I know you are in deep love mode....what a great place to be. sorry to interupt.

But I was wondering... did anyone establish how long it was between FNIT and SNIT?  also, like  what month was it?  How far into the summer of '63 did these guys connect? 

And to keep our thoughts hot... can you ONLY imagine all the other TENT scenes that summer??!!?  Woo  Baby!

[Rønnaug]

But I was wondering... did anyone establish how long it was between FNIT and SNIT?  also, like  what month was it?  How far into the summer of '63 did these guys connect? 

I don't know when during summer, but there has been some discussion on the time between FNIT and SNIT... I don't remember, but I am sure it is the following evening...

[shieldmaid]

I also thought that SNIT was the evening following FNIT.  There is a lot of discussion of this topic, including a detailed timeline according to the screenplay, on the thread entitled "sitting on the mountain together" (also in the "Characters, Quotes, Scenes" section).  And I thought it was June when they got up to Brokeback, and they spent about 2 months there--I know they leave in August, anyway.

I wish we could have a window into the other tent scenes!!  All that tenderness, all that hotness . . . it blows the mind.   

[stacp]

This decision to go inside was so hard for him because going in the tent is actually saying "I want you", and Ennis Del Mar was no queer, so how could he possibly want another man?...

But the beautiful thing in this scene is how they understood each other without words. After all, Ennis could've gone in there and say "hell, that was really good, and we ain't got no women here..." or just flip Jack on his stomach and go at it like in FNIT. but he didn't, because this time he needed something different, something more, and Jack knew it. The minute Ennis entered the tent, Jack knew he was there for more than just sex. When he laid his hand on Ennis's arm and looked into his eyes, it was like he was saying "I knew you'd come, I know what you want. it's okay". Ennis didn't need words because Jack understood him. and then, in the way they looked at each other and touched and kissed each other, they were exposing their deepest feelings and telling each other that "this thing" they have is much more than sex, much much more.

You all are making me tear up with your beautiful interpretations of my favorite scene in the movie!  I love the way Jack never breaks eye contact with Ennis after Ennis enters the tent, even when he throws Ennis' hat to the side.  Jack is reassuring Ennis with those big, beautiful eyes that Jack will take care of him and love him without question.  This is a soul connection they are making; love like this only happens once a lifetime if one is lucky.  Sigh.

P.S.  I bet they had to put "new tent" on their shopping list before the end of the summer---I bet they damn near tore it to bits with all their tent rocking!  What I wouldn't give to have seen those scenes . . . 

[mactwck]

This decision to go inside was so hard for him because going in the tent is actually saying "I want you", and Ennis Del Mar was no queer, so how could he possibly want another man?...

But the beautiful thing in this scene is how they understood each other without words. After all, Ennis could've gone in there and say "hell, that was really good, and we ain't got no women here..." or just flip Jack on his stomach and go at it like in FNIT. but he didn't, because this time he needed something different, something more, and Jack knew it. The minute Ennis entered the tent, Jack knew he was there for more than just sex. When he laid his hand on Ennis's arm and looked into his eyes, it was like he was saying "I knew you'd come, I know what you want. it's okay". Ennis didn't need words because Jack understood him. and then, in the way they looked at each other and touched and kissed each other, they were exposing their deepest feelings and telling each other that "this thing" they have is much more than sex, much much more.

You all are making me tear up with your beautiful interpretations of my favorite scene in the movie!  I love the way Jack never breaks eye contact with Ennis after Ennis enters the tent, even when he throws Ennis' hat to the side.  Jack is reassuring Ennis with those big, beautiful eyes that Jack will take care of him and love him without question.  This is a soul connection they are making; love like this only happens once a lifetime if one is lucky.  Sigh.

P.S.  I bet they had to put "new tent" on their shopping list before the end of the summer---I bet they damn near tore it to bits with all their tent rocking!  What I wouldn't give to have seen those scenes . . . 

Yes but how would they explain the need for a new tent?  I think they did it everywhere.  By the campfire, in the woods, by the creek, in the creek.  I have been thinking about this too much, huh?