Topic: Rehash of (Ennis to Alma Jr) "Does he love you?"

[dirtbiker]

I just realized that when Ennis asked Alma Jr whether Kurt loved her, that he was reflecting on whether Jack loved him.  He wanted to be sure he loved her and didn't want to lose the opportunity of a lifetime to give her away to a boy who really loves her as he had lost the opportunity with Jack.  That's probably why he decided to forgo the cowboy job at the Tetons, because this was something too important to miss.   

[chameau]

This scene breaks my heart...

Ennis with a very deep voice and concerned look in is eyes:

This kurt fella...  does he loves you?

Junior, misty eyes:

Yes, daddy.  He loves me.

You're right DB, Ennis was reflecting on wether Jack loved him.  :\'(

[FlwrChild]

And Heath is amazing in this scene. He looks away, almost as if he is actually looking at/to Jack and also to hide the raw emotion in his face and partial tear in his eye. He is, I think, full of so many feelings at this point, both for himself and his past & for Junior and her future.

[tpe]

Yes, I agree.  Ennis's terrible look out the window after Alma Jr.'s affirmation is so poigniant.  It is a beautiful interpretation of the screenplay directive about Ennis realizing what he won't have -- what he will NEVER have.

I had also wondered whether the question echoes Ennis's concern that Alma Jr. might go through the same hurt that he and Alma went through because of the wrong choices made --> particularly, Ennis marrying Alma even though he knew that he was in love with Jack.

[FlwrChild]

I read it the same way tpe.

[tpe]

I think Ennis knew that there are lessons to be learned from his life -- lessons too hard to see repeated, especially on one's own beloved children.

Did Alma Jr. understand what was happening to Ennis at that point?  I think she did.  I think that at that moment, she loved him all the more.

[FlwrChild]

There seemed to be a wealth of understanding in her simple "Yeah Daddy. He loves me."

[tpe]

And a world of meaning in Ennis's look that followed....

[chameau]

And a world of meaning in Ennis's look that followed....

Oh yes!  Not to mention it's the only time Ennis says the word love in the whole movie. 

[tpe]

Oh yes!  Not to mention it's the only time Ennis says the word love in the whole movie. 

It's such a powerful word, no?  It is often hackneyed/overused, but not here.  And the fact that it comes from Ennis, a man of few words, it is both telling and moving.  That he would finally use this in an oblique way -- vis-a-vis his feelings for Jack -- is also very poigniant.  As much as the "I swear" part seems to dominate the closing, this final vow is really just a commentary -- an affirmation -- to what Ennis had come to realize.


He loved you?

Yes, Jr., he loved me.

[FlwrChild]

OMG Thomas - you have reduced me to tears. That's the essence of it right there.

[tpe]

Sorry, FlwrChild.  It's hard for me to think about this scene so early in the morning.  It is beautiful, nonetheless.

[theohsocurlyone]

 :\'(

It took me a while to *get* this scene when I first watched it, and when I did, I just felt even worse and even sorrier for poor Ennis.  His stare out of the window after he has heard the news breaks my heart, because I can imagine him thinking:

How can she make it sound so simple?

And then this sad little smile as an answer comes to him, of sorts:



It IS that simple.

I'm not interpreting that completely wrongly, am I?

[tpe]

Beautifully said, theohsocurlyone.  Beautifully said.  It is the simplicity of how Jr. professed her love that must have pierced Ennis's heart.  Because, for all the complexity of the human heart, true love makes itself known quietly, without fanfare, without doubt.

[justlikethisalways]

Great posts, everyone. I agree with most of the observations made here. Just like to add a few comments:

Ennis reflecting on whether Jack loved him -- By the time of this scene, I think Ennis realized how much Jack loved him. It hit him full force when he found the shirts in Jack's closet. This knowledge was partly why Ennis asked Jr if Kurt loved her. He had experienced both tragedies: being with someone you don't really love, as well as not being with the one you truly love.

The first time we hear Ennis say "love" -- I wonder if this was also Jr's first time hearing him say the word too. Her facial expression seems to indicate that. If so it makes the moment even more poignant.

tpe, thanks for filling in the missing dialogue: 
   He loved you?
   Yes, Jr., he loved me.

It would have been so nice to hear those words. And these too:
   And I loved him.
   If two people love each other, they should be together.
   No matter what anybody says.
   (raises his glass) To Alma and Kurt.

theohsocurlyone - you are dead-on with this:
  How can she make it sound so simple?
  And then this sad little smile as an answer comes to him, of sorts:
  It IS that simple.

That's the tragedy of BBM. Ennis -- like his parents failing to negotiate the only curve in 43 miles -- missed something so simple, but so powerful it will haunt him the rest of his life. :\'(

p.s. I just noticed that on my DVD, this final scene is titled "The Power of Love."

[theohsocurlyone]

p.s. I just noticed that on my DVD, this final scene is titled "The Power of Love."

Really? Is that on the American DVD, then? On the UK one it is called "Memories".  Or is it "Good Memories"? I can't remember; my friend has borrowed it for so long that it's slipping out of my mind.  Am having SEVERE withdrawal symptoms...

[lamusica]

I think this scene shows that Ennis really does believe in love.  He now realizes, too, that he didn't love Alma enough to weather the bad times.  I think he also realies he didn't love Jack enough to put him first in their relationship, either.  I find it a very sad scene, but lovely nonetheless.  He wanted Junior to be sure that her man loved HER and loved her fully so she didn't have to live a loveless marriage -- not even for a day.  As with all the other scenes, it has a real purpose in the whole.

[tpe]

Great posts, everyone. I agree with most of the observations made here. Just like to add a few comments:

Ennis reflecting on whether Jack loved him -- By the time of this scene, I think Ennis realized how much Jack loved him. It hit him full force when he found the shirts in Jack's closet. This knowledge was partly why Ennis asked Jr if Kurt loved her. He had experienced both tragedies: being with someone you don't really love, as well as not being with the one you truly love.

The first time we hear Ennis say "love" -- I wonder if this was also Jr's first time hearing him say the word too. Her facial expression seems to indicate that. If so it makes the moment even more poignant.

tpe, thanks for filling in the missing dialogue: 
   He loved you?
   Yes, Jr., he loved me.

It would have been so nice to hear those words. And these too:
   And I loved him.
   If two people love each other, they should be together.
   No matter what anybody says.
   (raises his glass) To Alma and Kurt.

theohsocurlyone - you are dead-on with this:
  How can she make it sound so simple?
  And then this sad little smile as an answer comes to him, of sorts:
  It IS that simple.

That's the tragedy of BBM. Ennis -- like his parents failing to negotiate the only curve in 43 miles -- missed something so simple, but so powerful it will haunt him the rest of his life. :\'(

p.s. I just noticed that on my DVD, this final scene is titled "The Power of Love."

justlikethisalways, thanks.  I do think that in the final "I swear", Ennis professes his love forever. The meditation that starts with the discovery of the 2 shirst in Jack's closet ends with an affirmation of love and faithfulness.  It is a fitting end -- both beautiful and sad.

[tpe]

I think this scene shows that Ennis really does believe in love.  He now realizes, too, that he didn't love Alma enough to weather the bad times.  I think he also realies he didn't love Jack enough to put him first in their relationship, either.  I find it a very sad scene, but lovely nonetheless.  He wanted Junior to be sure that her man loved HER and loved her fully so she didn't have to live a loveless marriage -- not even for a day.  As with all the other scenes, it has a real purpose in the whole.

Thanks lamusica.  Yes, I also believe that in asking the question, Ennis was also putting voice to his desire that Jr. would not be cursed by a loveless marriage.