Do you have any tissue? I think I'm weeping watching this movie... Expect a slow-moving story that will quietly pull you in, and affect you deeply. Out of a very unexpected place, this movie has created one of the most affecting romances of the year. Uncompromising, touching, and heartbreaking, this film crosses all gender and political lines and fashions a demonstrative story about people and love.

Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhall) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) are looking for work and sent to Brokeback Mountain to help herd sheep for the summer. Finding an easygoing friendship based on mutual hardship, the relationship gets complicated quickly when the two take their companionship to the next level. Unable to deal with their love for each other, the men reluctantly go their separate ways, eventually finding wives (Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway) and siring children over the years, but still processing the deep, complex love between them. Periodically reconnecting during visits and getaways, it becomes clear that the difficulty of trying to accept their feelings might eventually unravel them for good. Directed by Ang Lee.

This film is an universal take on humanity. Below the surface story, an undercurrent of commonality to what we feel as people; isolation, regret, longing, fear, connection, transcends gender, race, culture, social, or even political identities. And of course the most feeling that we all hunger to explore and possess is that of love – this complex emotion that so easily overturns our lives, tempts us to exchange a little of our own souls with someone else, and makes us feel giddy that we belong to somebody that understand who we are. I believe when I was watching both of them, I was watching a love story -- and both of them are soul mates. I almost choked a few times...their love is forbidden, and they have to stay in the closet forever, sacrificing their own happiness because they cannot stand the prejudice. This film will numb you, become branded in your mind, and like a cold, rainy day leave you feeling sad and joyful all at the same time. You will end up caring immensely about these characters, see them as broken human beings no different than ourselves, and be genuinely touched by the sorrows they endure.

While the performances are uniformly fantastic, Heath Ledger as Ennis is fantastically heartbreaking. He is a man of decidedly few words, yet is a thunderstorm of heartache on the inside. This is quite literally a full-bodied performance, using all of emotion to send a message that his life fall apart due to his self-loathing, distance, and towering regret. Unable to give himself over to his feelings, his heart withers and dies, only witnessing moments of happiness with Jack, which allows him to be the man he wants to be without fear of judgment. When Jack cried to him, "The truth is... sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it.", I had to dab my eyes with tissues. And then when they cannot be together, Jack screamed out his frustation, "I wish I knew how to quit you!", tears were streaming down on my cheek. Man.... Oscar-worthy by the actors here is strong enough: this is a career-best performance, and a crucial element to the necessary feeling of frustration that powers the film.  it's an experience. This movie is NOT for everyone. If you are one of those who'd get squirmish with gay love scene, I suggest you steer away from this movie -- I was watching this, and there were some girls who were giggling nervously during the love-making scene. It ruined my mood, damn it. Congrats to all the young actors that really deliver great performances.

Ratings: 8/10