The use of melodrama is commonly used in the Western movie genre to enhance the emotional plot and illustrate contrasts between the strong, impassive male lead characters in their harsh environment and the emotional vulnerability of the leading lady. The love stories that are typically embedded within traditional Western genre films are that of seemingly impossible circumstance - some kind of conflict preventing the two from being together, the leading male displaying his heroic qualities at the end by "rescuing" the comparatively weak female lead and all odds are overcome as the two characters ride off into the sunset. As viewers, we have come to expect these types of romantic plot lines from the Western genre. .
Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" challenges the archetypal 'Western romance' as the melodramatic approach, plot structure and the emotional journey of the characters in many ways reflect that of a typical Western film, however the contrast between masculine and feminine that we expect to see in the main characters is non-existent. This excerpt is a pivotal scene in the film as we are forced to sympathetically experience an array of different emotions alongside the characters, enhanced through the use of melodrama. At the beginning of the scene, it becomes immediately apparent to both characters that their time together is coming to an end and they both grieve the loss in different ways. Jack's emotional journey in the scene is overwhelming as we see him experience all five stages of grief condensed into the space of just five minutes. At the beginning, he is calm, showing signs of denial with little acknowledgment of the situation. He then progresses to the 'anger stage' as he begins to shout, swear and pace, his actions over-emphasised. The transition into the 'bargaining stage' is rapid as he begins to describe his impractical 'Mexico' solution.
