HEIGHTS
by: ryan
The film Heights happens in 24 hours.
I think it’s about Jonathan (James Marsden) and Alec (Jesse Bradford)’s recovery of their courage and love. Althought there are many other characters in it, basically I think they are more or less creating the chance for Jonathan and Alec no matter if they know or not, or want to or not.rnrnSometimes I am so amazed by things that could happen in only twenty-four hours and amazed by some unexpected things could change one’s life forever. Like in the film, Jonathan and Isabel plan to have a wedding within a month, and they wake in the morning like a happy couple. Who knows that less than 24 hours, their lives would change dramatically.rnrnJonathan is indeed a liar to others and to himself. He cannot face the fact that he is gay and he cannot face the society by being gay.
But the thing that I cannot understand is that how he still has the relationship with Alec during the whole time when he is with Isabel. Is he that selfish to sacrifice Isabelle’s happiness to cover his true nature? Or does he really persuade him to believe that he is in love with Isabel? But in that case, has he ever thought the future of Alec? More I think, more I cannot understand.rnrnBut to be honest, not because I am so obsessed with James Marsden or his light blue eyes, I really can understand Jonathan.
On the roof, Alec wants to stop this relationship with Jonathan because it’s so tiring and he sees no future, but deep in his heart, he still loves him. Alec asked: Is it real? Jonathan paused for 5 seconds and said: close enough. I can see the struggle inside Jonathan’s body. He knows that this is not what he wants, but he thinks that the life he is living is not that much different from what he really wants. To me, I’d rather say that this is only his wishes and his life will never be close enough if he marries Isabel. I am touched by these several lines because I think that I can understand the pain of him, the struggle he is fighting. For gay people in the current circumstance of the society, do we have to sacrifice of being who we are so that to be accepeted by the society?
After all, we only have one life and ‘close enough’ is not good enough for us. I want to be true to myself and I want to be free with my love. Is that too much to ask for? (I know it is now, and I hope only now)rnrnAt the end, Alec gives Jonathan a second chance, it is a happy ending for Alec, Jonathan and Isable because Isabel will be able to find someone who really loves her. But I am thinking what the future will be for Alec and Jonathan, I’d rather think that they live happily ever after than think Jonathan will give in to the society and find himself anther girl. Of course, gay life is not all about the misery of pressure or hiding, but I think for most of us, we more or less give in to these things, give up our integrity and let go the chance of happiness.
Will we continue this way or will we have the sufficient courage and bravery to stand to ourselves? That is still a big Question Mark. ???????????? Hiding or covering who we are is like building a ladder while climbing it, more we hide ourselves, higher we climb, but when the time we cannot go on climbing the ladder and when the HEIGHTS are high enough, we will fall back to the ground and it will seriously hurt us, but this is not something we can control, not something we can predict. Maybe this is what the film Heights is all about. Stop climbing before it’s too late!!!