Braveheart - (US, 1999)


Figure 1.-- Here we see the young Wallace (James Robinson II ). The plain course cloth jerkin and trews (not shown here) and the plaits in the hair are probably accurate for the time--one thing the film got right.

William Wallace is one of the great Scottish leaders. He played a key role in prevcenting Scotland's absorbtion by England. The film depicts a Wallace that does not at first resist the English invader King Edward Longshanks. The film portrays Wallace as being set off was an royal policy of allowing English soldiers to "breed" with native Scotts. The larger English population could eventuaslly breed the Scottish blood out of the Scotts. Wallace is shown as gathering the Scottish clans to do battle. With war paint and a fierce determination, the Scotts defeat the much more numerous English. (This is one reason Stirling Bridge is so important.) The Mel Gibson film "Braveheart" has become the most famous and most popular film about Scotland. It is one example of the best known film about a country being made in America rather than in the country involved. Some classify "Braveheart as one of the greates films ever. The film has inspired numerous websites. One internet site on the film reads, "In my opinion, it's the best movie ever. It's something that leaves you with a feeling, has an impact on you, something that you will think about in days to follow." It is a well made film. It was awarded five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson. Our major quarrel with the film is historical accuracy. we are skeptical about any film depicting the Battle of Stirling Bridge without the bridge. This is no small deletion because the bridge was the key to the Scottish victory. A Scottish reader writes, " Whatever it's historical inaccuracies in other respects "Braveheart" does depict the clothes worn by the boy Wallace in 13th century Scotland - and no it wasn't a kilt!" Hre we see the young Wallace (James Robinson II ). The plain course cloth jerkin and trews (not shown here) and the plaits in the hair are probably accurate for the time--one thing the film got right. The film helped spawn face painting. It does go back to the early Scot, but it would be more decorative and only put on for battle and so not for boys. The blue and white come from the Scottish flag. People have it done for football matches)

Filmology

"Braveheart" is a well made film. It was awarded five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson.

Setting

The setting for "Braveheart" is cotland in the 13th century. A Scottish reader complains hat much of the film was shot in Ireland. Ths seems a shame as the film has become an icon of Scottish nationalism. Here we cnnot complain so much as financial concerns often drive such decessioins. We are unsure as to just why the producer made this decession. Many historic epics are shot in places far afield from the actual location.

Cast

"Braveheart" was of ourse a Mel Gibson vehicle who dominates the film. The young Wallace was played by James Robinson II.

William Wallace (about 1270-1305)

William Wallace was of course an actual hiorical figure. He is one of the great Scottish leaders. He played a key role in prevcenting Scotland's absorbtion by England. We do know that he was the key leader in the early stages of the Scottish resistance to the lonbg, but eventully successful struggle against the English King Edward I in the late 13th Century. There are very few actual records relating to Wallace. We know that he mastermined the defeat of a powerful English army at Stirling Bridge. Wallace waited until part of the English army had crossed the bridge and attacked. He routed the English because they could not bring suffiecent forces accross the bridge to confront the weaker cottish army. There is a great deal of inaccuate reporta, in part because Edward demonized him. This is important becuse because most writtn records from the time are English records. We do know that Wallace was eventually betrayed by a Scottish knight and seized near Glasgow (1305). He was transported to London in chains. He was tried for what we would call today war crimes. The English charged that he spared "neither age nor sex, monk nor nun". He was condemned as a traitor to King Edward, although he maintained, he had never swore loyalty to Edward. He was found guilty and executed. He was hung, drawn, and quartered--the normal penalty for treason. His head was impaled on a spike set up on London Bridge. His apendages displayed at other important locations thoughout England. Edward's execution of Wallace turned him into a popular national martyr. Robert I the Bruce, who had not supported Wallace, was able to organizee a national revival. Edward gathered an army to confont the Scottish again, but died near Carlisle as he was moving north.

Plot

The film depicts a Wallace that does not at first resist the English invader King Edward Longshanks. The film portrays Wallace as being set off was an royal policy of allowing English soldiers to "breed" with native Scotts. The larger English population could eventuaslly breed the Scottish blood out of the Scotts. Wallace is shown as gathering the Scottish clans to do battle. With war paint and a fierce determination, the Scotts defeat the much more numerous English. (This is one reason Stirling Bridge is so important.)

Popularity

The Mel Gibson film "Braveheart" has become the most famous and most popular film about Scotland. It is one example of the best known film about a country being made in America rather than in the country involved. Some classify "Braveheart as one of the greates films ever. The film has inspired numerous websites. One internet site on the film reads, "In my opinion, it's the best movie ever. It's something that leaves you with a feeling, has an impact on you, something that you will think about in days to follow."

Historical Accuracy

Our major quarrel with the film is historical accuracy. The film also does not well explain the difference between the Highland and Lowland Scotts. It does show the lack of unity beteen the Scott, but not put it in th proper historical perspective. The Low Land Scotts by the 13th centuy were becoming Anglicized and had begun looking on the Higlanders as barbaric. The Lowlanders were increasingly speaking English and dressing like the English. (It was a Lowland Scottish knight loyal to Edward that helped the English arest Wallace.) Wallace himself was a Lowland Scot, hence he probably did not wear tartan, which was the mark of the Highlanders. The film can perhaps be excused for taking liberties will Wallace because so little actual verified historical information is available on him. We are, however, skeptical about any film depicting the Battle of Stirling Bridge without the bridge! This is no small deletion because the bridge was the key to the Scottish victory over the numerically superior English army.

Costuming

A Scottish reader writes, " Whatever it's historical inaccuracies in other respects "Braveheart" does depict the clothes worn by the boy Wallace in 13th century Scotland - and no it wasn't a kilt!" Here we see the young Wallace (James Robinson II ). The plain course cloth jerkin and trews (not shown here) and the plaits in the hair are probably accurate for the time--one thing the film got right. The film helped spawn face painting. It does go back to the early Scot, but it would be more decorative and only put on for battle and so not for boys. The blue and white come from the Scottish flag. People have it done for football matches)






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Created: December 29, 2003
Last updated: December 30, 2003