Ebert should have talked to some queer people in the 1980s about whether they felt it was stupid for “Maurice” to end on a hopeful note. Does he think that at a time we were literally fighting for our lives that we were doing it with the idea that we would fail, or that we would make justice in this world no matter how hard that goal might have been? Sorry we didn’t die tragically for your entertainment, Rog.
Ebert really hated any movie with a gay character in which the gay character didn't die in the end. He hated the ending of 'Beautiful Thing' for the same reason -- he hated that a gay couple ended up together for being 'unrealistic'.
I haven't read EM Forster's book, but how does it end? I thought the ending of the movie was brilliant.The final scene with Maurice at the window unforgettable. Because it shows what happens when you take one path and someone else takes another. In fact something like this happened to me (and it was not me who took Maurice's path). Another movie with a powerful end was Making Love (1982). This is also definitely a movie worth reviewing. The scene where he drives off and she remains watching is full of sorts of conflicting emotions.
It ends the same way. Maurice runs away with Alec, and then he visits Clive to say goodbye. In the terminal note he wrote in the 1960s, Forster said that a happy ending was “imperative”. I highly recommend you read it (both the book and the terminal note).
I am frankly shocked that when talking about themes you leave out the major theme of Brokeback: that gay stories must end in tragedy and death of a gay character. Straight (or maybe better said, non-gay) audiences LOVE to watch gay men get killed. That is why the (non-gay) director, screen writer and original author all show the brutal murder of one of the gay characters, so the tragic ending is ensured. This isn't a relic of the past: see the recent success of White Lotus - in both seasons, the gay men characters - all of them -- are brutally killed in the last episode, and straight/ non-gay audiences love it for that.
Real. That is ESPECIALLY relevant when talking about Maurice, whos main point as a narrative is that it has a happy ending. That is literally what the author said was most important to him while writing the story and also the main reason as to why it wasnt published when written (much like nowadays, queer characters and stories are allowed so long as it ends in tragedy, etc.)
OK, the pronunciation of Maurice in this review is unbearable, and to a British ear just sounds effete. The reason for mispronouncing it just daft. Please don't do this again!
Your video essays are lovely. You deserve WAY more attention than you are getting.
Exactly!
This was a great essay! I would love to see more!
I loved Brokeback Mountain when it came out, I recently discovered Maurice and I believe I like it even better. Thanks for the video.
They were both brilliant. I was disappointed with Call me by my name, despite its reviews.
After watching your Challengers video and now this one, I can confidently say that I’m sure you’ll make it far! Keep up the good work!
Ebert should have talked to some queer people in the 1980s about whether they felt it was stupid for “Maurice” to end on a hopeful note. Does he think that at a time we were literally fighting for our lives that we were doing it with the idea that we would fail, or that we would make justice in this world no matter how hard that goal might have been? Sorry we didn’t die tragically for your entertainment, Rog.
Ebert really hated any movie with a gay character in which the gay character didn't die in the end. He hated the ending of 'Beautiful Thing' for the same reason -- he hated that a gay couple ended up together for being 'unrealistic'.
Lovely video essay.
I haven't read EM Forster's book, but how does it end? I thought the ending of the movie was brilliant.The final scene with Maurice at the window unforgettable. Because it shows what happens when you take one path and someone else takes another. In fact something like this happened to me (and it was not me who took Maurice's path). Another movie with a powerful end was Making Love (1982). This is also definitely a movie worth reviewing. The scene where he drives off and she remains watching is full of sorts of conflicting emotions.
It ends the same way. Maurice runs away with Alec, and then he visits Clive to say goodbye. In the terminal note he wrote in the 1960s, Forster said that a happy ending was “imperative”. I highly recommend you read it (both the book and the terminal note).
I am frankly shocked that when talking about themes you leave out the major theme of Brokeback: that gay stories must end in tragedy and death of a gay character. Straight (or maybe better said, non-gay) audiences LOVE to watch gay men get killed. That is why the (non-gay) director, screen writer and original author all show the brutal murder of one of the gay characters, so the tragic ending is ensured. This isn't a relic of the past: see the recent success of White Lotus - in both seasons, the gay men characters - all of them -- are brutally killed in the last episode, and straight/ non-gay audiences love it for that.
Real. That is ESPECIALLY relevant when talking about Maurice, whos main point as a narrative is that it has a happy ending. That is literally what the author said was most important to him while writing the story and also the main reason as to why it wasnt published when written (much like nowadays, queer characters and stories are allowed so long as it ends in tragedy, etc.)
OK, the pronunciation of Maurice in this review is unbearable, and to a British ear just sounds effete. The reason for mispronouncing it just daft. Please don't do this again!