Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist meet in 1963 while herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain and begin a secret romantic relationship. They both struggle with their sexuality and maintaining their relationship as they live heterosexual lives away from each other, marrying women and having families. Throughout the years their relationship remains passionate yet also strained by Ennis's reluctance to be openly gay. The film culminates tragically with Jack's death in the 1980s and Ennis's lonely reflection on the love they shared together on Brokeback Mountain.