Braveheart

This has only incited more calls for the statue to be removed as it now appears that the Gibson/Wallace figure is imprisoned; an irony, considering that the statue bears the word "Freedom" on the plinth. After repairs were made, the statue was encased in a cage at night to prevent further vandalism. In 1998 the statue was vandalised by someone who smashed the face in with a hammer. The statue, which includes the word "Braveheart" on Wallace's shield, was the cause of much controversy and one local resident stated that it was wrong to "desecrate the main memorial to Wallace with a lump of crap".

In 1997 a statue of Gibson as "William Wallace" was placed in the car-park of the Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland. For a historical treatment of events see the William Wallace entry. Some noted critiques include:. Modifications to the sequence of events create dramatic juxtapositions, allowing different lines in the story to appear to occur simultaneously.

The anachronistic kilts and blue makeup worn by the Scots make the rebels more visually distinctive, the incomplete armor and missing helmets allow viewers to recognize the actors, and changes to characters and names make the story easier to follow. Some of the "inaccuracies" in Braveheart may be motivated by artistic reasons. However, due to the intense level of detail in costuming, makeup and special effects, audiences may incorrectly assume that the production is intended to be historically accurate. Braveheart is a work of fiction which draws inspiration from real historical events.

. Nominated:. The film won numerous awards including the 1995 Academy Award for:. Mel Gibson played Wallace and also directed the film.

Braveheart is an American motion picture released in 1995 that was very loosely based on the life of William Wallace, a major Scottish hero. This changed after the unexpected death of Alexander III in 1288 and when Edward I who was asked to resolve the dispute to the Scottish crown used it to revive English claims of overlordship. Ironically the 13th century was one of the few centuries when Anglo-Scottish relations were relatively peaceful. In his speech before the battle of Stirling Bridge, Mel Gibson's Wallace alludes to a 100 years of tyranny.

Wallace was hunted down when the Scots were forced to surrender in 1305. The Scottish war effort collapsed a few years later because of the defeat of their French allies by the Flemish at Coutrai in 1304. He did eventually switch sides but that was a few years later and as a result of a dispute with the Comyns (not depicted in the film) who supported the Balliol claim to the throne. Bruce did not betray Wallace at Falkirk.

There is no historical record of this though Bruce himself contracted a disease before his death that has sometimes been alleged to be leprosy. The movie depicts Robert the Bruce's father (who also had the same) name as a leper. The reality of William Wallace's capture and execution was far worse than shown in the film. Braveheart suggests Wallace supported the Bruce claim to the Scottish throne; however, Wallace supported the Balliol claim while Bruce was convinced of his father's rightful succession.

The then-future King Robert the Bruce is described as "Earl of Bruce", but actually, his title before becoming king was Earl of Carrick. The argument escalated into a fight, resulting in Wallace killing the soldiers. Wallace's long-standing hatred for the English may not have been because of his wife's death, according to one legend it was because two English soldiers challenged Wallace over some fish he had caught. She was indeed supposedly killed by the English sheriff of Lanark in May 1297, although it appears this was a reprisal by the English since Wallace was already revolting against them.

Wallace is reputed to have had a wife named Marian Braidfoot (apparently her name was changed to Murron in the film so audiences would not confuse her with Maid Marian from the Robin Hood stories). There is some controversy about the jus prima noctis (also known as the droit de seigneur), the supposed right of a Lord to deflower virgins in his territory, but it certainly did not exist in either England or Scotland during this period. A sword which is claimed to have belonged to Wallace (although this is disputed) exists in Scotland, it is significantly simpler. The sword carried by Gibson is a 16th century Scottish claymore.

In fact, Bruce had already been fighting a guerrilla campaign against the English for 8 years. Near the end, the film implies that Bannockburn was a spontaneous battle. The film implies that Wallace's rebellion took place against a background of a fairly lengthy English occupation of Scotland. Actually they had only invaded Scotland the year before (1296) and the mass hanging of Scottish nobles which Wallace witnessed as a boy never happened. They did not take kindly to such intentions, even if they did not actually switch sides.

Edward I intended to use them as the first wave of attack and ssentially as schiltron fodder. The Celtic soldiers who did display some rebellious tendencies were the Welsh, who had been conquered about a decade earlier. The Irish forces were hired mercenaries who, from all accounts, fought well for Edward I. The film shows Irish conscripts switching sides and joining Wallace's forces at the Battle of Falkirk.

This implies his first wife Eleanor of Castile was his only spouse. Edward I's second wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1299 is absent from the film, although the span of history covered in the production includes this year. Curiously, the fight shown in the film is more like the Battle of Bannockburn 17 years later, with English cavalry charging Scottish schiltrons and being repulsed. (It is rumoured that Gibson told a Scottish local the bridge was removed as it got in the way, and the local replied "that's what the English found" [1] (http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/battles/stirlingbraveheart.html).) The film also makes no mention of Andrew de Moray, Wallace's companion-in-arms and a major contributor at this battle.

The actual conflict was more of an ambush of the English as they attempted to cross a river. The Battle of Stirling Bridge, the first skirmish in the film, was filmed without a bridge. Although most historians agree that Edward was a homosexual, many complained that the film presented demeaning stereotypes toward Edward. Gibson was critiqued for his portrayal of Isabella's future husband, Edward II of England.

(Note this idea may derive from the play The Wallace by Sydney Goodsir Smith.). Historically, the real Isabella was only a child still living in France at this time, and furthermore, was never a Princess of Wales. The film implies she is pregnant at the time of Wallace's execution, possibly carrying the future Edward III of England. Braveheart's plot includes an affair between William Wallace and the character Princess Isabelle, based upon Isabella of France.

David Gant - Chief Justice/Executioner. Martin Dunne - Lord Dolecroft. Martin Dempsey - Drinker No 1. Peter Hanly - Prince Edward.

John Kavanagh - Craig. Jimmy Keogh - Drinker No 2. Angus MacFadyen - Robert the Bruce. Mal Whyte - Jailor.

Brian Cox - Argyle Wallace. David McKay - Young Soldier. James Cosmo - Campbell. Malcolm Tierney - Magistrate.

Sandy Nelson - John Wallace. Sean Lawlor - Malcolm Wallace. Jeanne Marine - Nicolette. Gerard McSorley - Cheltham.

John Murtagh - Lochlan. Robert Paterson - Priest No 2. Alan Tall - Elder Stewart. Rupert Vansittart - Lord Bottoms.

Donal Gibson - Stewart. James Robinson - Young William. Julie Austin - Mrs Morrison. Tommy Flanagan - Morrison.

Barry McGovern - King's Advisor No 2. Peter Mullan - Veteran. Martin Murphy - Lord Talmadge. Alex Norton - Bride's Father.

Niall O'Brien - English General No 2. David O'Hara - Stephen. Ralph Riach - Priest No 1. Joe Savino - Chief Assassin.

Tam White - MacGregor. Sean McGinley - MacClannough. Phil Kelly - Farmer. Bernard Horsfall - Balliol.

Liam Carney - Sean. Michael Byrne - Smythe. Alun Armstrong - Mornay. Ian Bannen - Robert the Bruce's leprous father.

Brendan Gleeson - Hamish. Catherine McCormack - Murron. Patrick McGoohan - King Edward I. Sophie Marceau - Princess Isabelle.

Mel Gibson - William Wallace. Costume Design. Film Editing. Makeup.

Best Cinematography. Direction, Mel Gibson. Best Picture.