‘I Am Heath Ledger’ gives rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of late Brokeback Mountain star

A trailer has been released based on the life of late Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger.

Ledger, who is remembered for his Oscar-nominated, era-defining role in Brokeback Maintain, passed away in 2008 aged 28, from cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication.

I Am Heath Ledger, which will premiere later this month at Tribeca Film Festival, features rare behind-the-scenes home video filmed by the late actor, as well as tributes from his friends, family and former collaborators.

A trailer for the film debuted today.

It revealed contributions from the director of Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee.

Lee said: “Even as a supporting actor, he will steal the whole show. That’s the power of Heath Ledger.”

Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn also pays tribute to Heath Ledger’s Brokeback Mountain role.

He said: “Before Brokeback Mountain came out it would have been unthinkable to have a romantic tragedy involving two gay cowboys.

“This is one of the biggest heartthrobs on earth taking on that character. That’s an artist.”

A release for the film says: “Fathom Events and Network Entertainment present the documentary, I Am Heath Ledger, an intimate look at the remarkable life and career of Heath Ledger, in select cinemas nationwide for a special one-night event on Wednesday, May 3.

“I Am Heath Ledger is a feature length documentary celebrating the life of Heath Ledger: actor, artist and icon.

“The documentary provides an intimate look at Heath Ledger through the lens of his own camera as he films and often performs in his own personal journey – extravagant in gesture and in action. ”

Ledger’s Brokeback co-star Jake Gyllenhaal paid tribute to his “best friend” in an emotional speech ten years after the film’s release.

He said: “I miss him as a human being, and I miss working with him.

“And what an unfortunate thing it is that we won’t be able to see the beauty of his expression.

“He was incredibly special, and that doesn’t even come close to encapsulating who he is — who he was.”

Speaking about his memories of Ledger last year, he added: “Personally, it affected me in ways I can’t necessarily put in words, or even would want to talk about publicly.

“In terms of professionally, I think I was at an age where mortality was not always that clear to me.

“You live in this bubble of making films… there are real friends, and there is a real community, but also [as Macklemore sings on his new album] there’s that moment where ‘the curtain closes and nobody notices’.

“I think that’s true, and I think that’s okay.

“At the time, I assumed everyone would notice – and they did with Heath dying -but I think it [gave me] the experience of ‘this is fleeting’.

“None of the attention or synthesised love that comes from the success of a film really matters at all.

“What matters is the relationships you make when you make a film, and the people you learn from when you’re preparing for a film.

“That changed a lot for me.”

• Dec 01 2023

16 TV stars you grew up watching who later came out as LGBTQ+