Ledger blasts Brokeback ban

Heath Ledger (left) and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain.

January 10, 2006 - 11:06AM

Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au)

Heath Ledger can't quite believe the immaturity of it all.

Love is love, he says, regardless of gender and if the Mormons in Utah have a problem with a tender tale about gay amour then it's just that - their problem.

"It's all just really unnecessary,'' he says of a decision by two US cinemas not to screen his new film which explores a forbidden love shared by two gay cowboys, one played by Ledger. 

"Who gives a f---? Personally I don't think the movie is (controversial) but I think maybe the Mormon's in Utah do. I think it's hilarious and very immature of a society.

``If two people are loving ... I think we should be more concerned if two people express anger in love, than love. This talk is all a waste of energy.''

The 26-year-old Australian is in Melbourne for tonight's national premiere of Brokeback Mountain, which includes intimate scenes between the cowboys as the film follows the evolution of their love affair.

It's those scenes that earned the film an 'O' for offensive rating by the influential Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Following that, two cinemas - one in Utah's Salt Lake City, the other in Washington - decided not to show the movie on moral grounds.

And while Salt Lake City is the home base for America's conservative Morman population, one newspaper noted that other new movies with R-rated content, such as the marijuana fuelled comedy Grandma's Boy and the horror movie Hostel, opened on schedule.

Ledger, who's tipped to win an Oscar nomination for his exceptional performance, says the only thing that really matters to him is ensuring the story's author on which the film is based is happy with the result.

``I don't have any expectations anyway (to win),'' he says.

``Our job is done. The success for us was making Annie Proulx (the author of the short story) happy. She wrote us letters approving our performances and that's it - full stop.''

Ledger, in Melbourne with girlfriend Michelle Williams who he met on the Brokeback Mountain set, also revealed his Sydney mansion was unlikely to be a long term base.

He says living in the beachside community of Bronte ``feels like living in a fishbowl'' and he hopes he, Michelle and their new baby Matilda Rose will split their time between Australia and the US.

``Bronte is more a short term thing in Australia. I think if we were going to live back here I would have to get a farm with a big fence,'' he says in a clear reference to the intense media attention the couple attract down under.

``For now, we will float between Brooklyn and Australia. I want her (Matilda) to have friends in both countries.''

A softly spoken Williams says since the birth of Matilda, she and Ledger have grown as a couple.

``Our love for each other grows.   We had a really good relationship (before Matilda) ... and we still love, respect and are patient with each other.   Even with all the new demands, pressures and challenges we still work really well together and it doesn't break us.''

Ledger also seems blissfully happy beaming, ``Michelle and I are like two peas in a pod. Everyday I just fall deeper, and deeper and deeper in love with my two girls.''
 

AAP

* Mr. Ledger's opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of HeathHeathens or its Administration.