There are some films that stay with you for a long time after you’ve watched them. And one particular Western drama has done exactly that for thousands of viewers, with many describing it as “heartbreaking” and saying it made them “sob like babies”.
The film in question may look like a typical cowboy story on the surface, but it’s far from it. Based on a short story written in the 1990s, the movie follows the lives of two men whose bond begins while herding sheep in the American West and develops into a secret, deeply emotional relationship spanning two decades.
Set between 1963 and 1983, Brokeback Mountain explores themes of love, repression, and loss.
It features award-winning performances, stunning cinematography, and some very powerful music.
Directed by Ang Lee and starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams, the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2005, where it won the prestigious Golden Lion.
It was later released in cinemas that December and became a huge critical and commercial success.
The film grossed more than £140 million at the box office worldwide and received an 88% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences also gave it a strong 82% rating.
At the Oscars, it won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. It also picked up top prizes at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
What’s more, in 2018, it was added to the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Many critics also named it one of the best films of the 2000s, and it has since been recognised as a turning point in queer cinema.
Viewers continue to be impressed with the film to this day. Many say it left them in tears, with some calling it the first movie that ever made them cry.
The performances of Ledger and Gyllenhaal have been described as “raw” and “gut-wrenching”.
One person said: “Heart-breaking and beautiful. Brokeback Mountain is a rare masterpiece.” While another added: “Incredible. I sobbed like a baby at the end.”
A third viewer wrote: “Absolutely heartbreaking and slow paced, but very much worth the watch. My heart ached so much after watching this movie. It’s wonderful, but very sad. Bring the tissues out if you watch this.”
Another commented: “Brokeback Mountain is not just a movie, it’s an emotional experience that stays with you long after the credits roll. The performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are raw, restrained, and absolutely heartbreaking.”
A fifth person said: “One of the best movies of all time. This movie can dig into your soul until the last teardrop in your body is out. It brought me to tears, the first one to actually do so. The plot is amazing and the film fits the era it’s supposed to be in.”
Brokeback Mountain is availabe to rent or buy on Prime Video.
