7. Braveheart
The Film: Historical flaws aside, Braveheart is a rousing spectacle. A film that is directed by a man who doesn’t have such a good reputation at the moment “thanks” to his highly controversial statements, a film that has a heavy-handed approach at times, Braveheart – despite its obvious historical inaccuracies – is still a masterpiece. Mel Gibson won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture for this film, both very well deserved as he knew how to film realistically the action scenes, while his brilliant portrayal of Wallace was truly memorable. Braveheart, for all its epic battle scenes, is a political picture about the desire of suppressed people for “something better,” as Wallace perfectly describes it in the film.
The Historical Events: The story of the film was inspired by Blind Harry’s epic poem The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace. William Wallace was a late 13th-century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. He is a compelling historical character because it was never his intention to become a freedom fighter. He left his homeland as a small boy amidst family tragedy and spent many years abroad. He returned to Scotland a new man with simple (and normal) desires: to live free in peace and raise his family.
After King Edward I imprisoned the Scottish king John de Balliol, Wallace declared himself ruler of Scotland. He led around 30 men to burn the royal town of Lanark where he killed the English sheriff, and then raised an army to attack the English garrisons. In the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Wallace captured Stirling Castle and nearly freed Scotland of occupying forces. In an attempt to avenge their defeat at Stirling Bridge, Edward I invaded Scotland in 1298. Wallace led the Scottish forces that consisted of 2,500 mounted knights and 12,500 infantry.
Vulnerable to England’s longbowmen, Wallace’s forces were soon scattered by the charging English cavalry and many of them fled into the neighboring woods. Wallace escaped, although he lost many supporters. After English rule was re-established, Wallace waged a lengthy guerrilla campaign. He was declared a traitor to the English king, even though he had never sworn allegiance. He was eventually hunted down, captured and eventually beheaded after he was tortured for days. He was succeeded by Robert de Bruce, who in 1306 raised the rebellion that won Scotland’s independence.