The film Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, was a landmark in the film industry, receiving great critical acclaim and winning several awards.

The film starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as two cowboys who fall in love with each other.

Despite the film’s success, the two actors had a difficult time during filming, and there were reports of friction between the two of them.

In an interview with Empire, Director Ang Lee discussed the preparation process for the actors.

Lee said, “I gave both men a couple of books about the rural Midwest, and they went to a cowboy camp, too. But Heath grew up on a ranch in Australia – he was a natural.”

“He didn’t need to do a lot of the work, but he took the training in good faith. He was so good with animals, too.

“When he sat on that horse, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind. He was a cowboy.

However, the preparation process was not without its challenges.

“Sometimes there was friction – not quarrelling, but a clash of styles. Sometimes I would mediate that, but they were both good in different ways. They would always make the effort to find a way through,” explained the director.

Despite the friction, both actors were dedicated to their roles and surprised Lee with their preparation for the film.

One scene in particular was especially intense, with Gyllenhaal almost having his nose broken.

Gyllenhaal stated in an interview, “Heath almost broke my nose in a kissing scene. He grabs me and he slams me up against the wall and kisses me.

“And then I grab him and I slam him up against the wall and I kiss him. And we were doing take after take after take. I got the s*** beat out of me.

“We had other scenes where we fought each other and I wasn’t hurting as badly as I did after that one.

Despite the difficulties during filming, the end result was a stunning on-screen dynamic between the two actors.

Ang Lee was able to bring out the best in both of them, and the final product was a beautifully crafted love story that captivated audiences and won the hearts of critics.

The film was a significant moment in the careers of both Gyllenhaal and Ledger and remains a classic in the film industry to this day.