This morning, I just happened to be writing elsewhere on the sexual appeal of that kiss. But it is in a locked LJ so I'll copy and paste it here.
We had been noting that although book Ennis and Alma didn't seem to have much spark in their sexual life (talking about whether Ennis was constitutionally gay, or a "straight" man who happened to fall head-over-heels for another man), there was definitely a sense of warmth between Alman and Ennis on screen. Did it spill over from Ledger and Williams's offscreen love affair? We did not know. But Ennis and Alma definitely seemed to have some sexual pleasure going on between them, even if she didn't look too thrilled about being flipped over for rear entry (whichever entrance he was using; in the book, as I said, it seemed Proulx meant it anally; the film leaves it ambiguous).
My LJ correspondent replied,
In the sled scene, in particular, they are very affectionate, although people have pointed out that Ennis's affection is a bit rough, and that if he had been sledding with Jack the very roughness of it would have been a part of their emotional and sexual relationship.
I replied,
This is true. But, every person, including Ennis, relates differently to those he or she loves. The affection and desire he feels for Alma, or the affection he feels for his little girls is bound to draw out a different part of him and a different form of expression than what Jack draws from him.
I think that Ennis is quite physically tender with his daughters, and probably has a knowing, gentle hand when helping with the young of the animals he tends. But there is a violence in him, an explosiveness that also wants to come out. Until Jack, it only erupted in pushing-and-shoving interchanges with men, and outright brawling. But, with Jack as a lover, another man, Ennis seems free to let it loose because Jack can take it and won't take it amiss if he gets bruised in the process.
Personally, this is one of the strong appeals for me, when reading male-male sex scenes in fic. Tenderness between two men stands out, of course, since it's not usual to see it portrayed. But it's very exhilarating, almost freeing to see men not hold back in sex, physically. If they did that with a woman, usually smaller-bodied and much less physically strong, they would fear injuring or frightening her -- and this very well might be the case.
I love the stairs scene, partially because it's so sensationally acted, but also because of what I am talking about, I find it extremely exhilarating to watch. I wouldn't say it makes me positively hot, but it is tremendously satisfying to see Ennis throw his lover up against the stairwell wall with his full strength, and for his lover to come right back and tackle him fiercely in return. I felt the pleasure of being able to do that -- being full-out physical, without the worry of actually hurting Jack. To get that much pent-up emotion out in the form of a physical act, evenif vicariously, felt wonderful.
When Jack bloodied Ennis's nose on their last day during their first summer, and Ennis punched him back, I could think, well, that's just Jack and Ennis for you, ever inclined to get too rowdy and rough, just like the two nineteen-year-olds they are. I know and the two men know that they can handle it and take it in stride. If that had happened between a man and a woman, however, I would be apalled.
I just thought I'd like to share that with you, Ann, as a fellow-fan of the stairs kiss.
On that kiss on the stairs (still thinking about THAT, too)
Date: 2006-02-07 02:37 pm (UTC)We had been noting that although book Ennis and Alma didn't seem to have much spark in their sexual life (talking about whether Ennis was constitutionally gay, or a "straight" man who happened to fall head-over-heels for another man), there was definitely a sense of warmth between Alman and Ennis on screen. Did it spill over from Ledger and Williams's offscreen love affair? We did not know. But Ennis and Alma definitely seemed to have some sexual pleasure going on between them, even if she didn't look too thrilled about being flipped over for rear entry (whichever entrance he was using; in the book, as I said, it seemed Proulx meant it anally; the film leaves it ambiguous).
My LJ correspondent replied,
I replied,
I just thought I'd like to share that with you, Ann, as a fellow-fan of the stairs kiss.