Brokeback Mountain will be inducted into the National Film Registry.
The Library of Congress has announced the 25 films that will be joining the prestigious list, which celebrates and preserves films that have been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
One of those films is Ang Lee’s celebrated same-sex romance Brokeback Mountain, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as lovers in the American West in the ’60s.
The film became a critical and commercial success when it was released in 2005, and went on to win three Oscars including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
“I didn’t intend to make a statement with Brokeback Mountain, I simply wanted to tell a purely Western love story between two cowboys,” director Ang told the Library of Congress.
“To my great surprise, the film ended up striking a deep chord with audiences; the movie became a part of the culture, a reflection of the darkness and light—of violent prejudice and enduring love—in the rocky landscape of the American heart.
“More than a decade has passed since ‘Brokeback Mountain’ was released, but I hope that this film, a small movie with wide open spaces, continues to express something both fresh and fundamental about my adopted country.”
Other films added to the National Film Registry this year include Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, Disney’s 1950 animation Cinderella, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca.
“The National Film Registry turns 30 this year and for those three decades, we have been recognising, celebrating, and preserving this distinctive medium,” said Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, in a statement.
“These cinematic treasures must be protected because they document our history, culture, hopes, and dreams.”
Related: Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio turned down Brokeback Mountain
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