'Brokeback Mountain' Wins Golden Lion

VENICE, ITALY -- Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' won Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion on Saturday, beating film festival favorite George Clooney in the race to take the top prize.

'Brokeback Mountain', starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is a story about gay love between two cowboys in the mountains of Wyoming. The film's theme, and the fact that it's featuring some of Hollywood's top-hunks in sweeping gay love scenes together, has made it's release highly anticipated in the gay community.

Based on a novella by Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain" is a story of love against adversity. Independent and low-budget, like several U.S. entries at the festival, it was filmed in Canada to save money.

Director Ang Lee stated that, "After two big movies, I decided to make a small movie that really moved me." "I have the impression this is the most auteur-specialist of all film festivals and I never thought I would come here. I can't tell you how proud I am."

Critics had predicted Clooney's black-and-white tale of 1950s broadcasting courage, "Good Night. And, Good Luck", would win the Golden Lion. Clooney instead won the award for best screenplay with co-writer Grant Heslov.

To see clips from the movie, click here.