Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995) was inspired by Blind Harry's 15th-century epic poem The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace and was adapted for the screen by Randall Wallace. While Randall Wallace shares the same last name as the film's protagonist, William Wallace, they are not related. However, Randall has familial connections that stretch into Scottish history. On a trip to Scotland, Wallace learned the story of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, thus inspiring his research into William Wallace's past and eventual adaptation of the epic poem. Braveheart was nominated for ten Oscars and won five for 5 Oscars: Best Picture (Mel Gibson, Alan Ladd Jr., Bruce Davey), Best Director (Mel Gibson), Best Cinematography (John Toll), Best Effects-Sound Effects Editing (Lon Bender, Per Hallberg), and Best Makeup (Peter Frampton, Paul Pattison, Lois Burwell). It won 33 awards from its release in 1995 to 2016, where it won the Felix Award for Best Makeup at the 20/20 Awards. Mel Gibson was the co-producer, director, and leading actor of the film. Best known for his action hero roles, he turned to producing and directing after the success of Lethal Weapon. Initially, Gibson passed on the opportunity to direct the film but couldn't get the idea out of his head. A few weeks later, he signed the contract to co-produce, direct, and act in Braveheart, which won him the Oscar for Best Director. Braveheart's success in the box office landed the movie in the 84th spot on IMDb's Top 250 Films list.
Mel Gibson plays William Wallace, the protagonist of Braveheart, with Sophie Marceau, the late Patrick McGoohan, and Catherine McCormack as supporting cast members. The movie was filmed in Scotland and Ireland, staying true to the story's roots. The Scottish scenes were filmed in and around Glen Coe, Glen Nevis, and the Mamore mountains. The movie follows the story of Scottish warrior William Wallace who leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England. After the film's global release, news outlets accused the movie of Anglophobia, with The Economist going so far as calling the movie "xenophobic." How did the release of Braveheart in Scotland affect Scottish antipathy towards England?
In the 15th century, Scotland and England did not get along. That's a gross understatement but bear with me. The key theme of Braveheart is the antipathy felt by the Scots towards the English. The Scots, in particular, wanted their independence from the English crown. The Scots largely rejected English rule. They hated the monarch and felt that they took the short end of the stick in most deals between the two nations. The true division, however, was between the Scottish commoners and noblemen. Scottish noblemen wanted to remain under English rule because it was personally advantageous, as seen with the character of Robert the Bruce's father. The noblemen played both sides against the middle, which won them favors like land in England, endless crops, and a hereditary title. However, they also painted a bright red target on their back to William Wallace and his supporters. In the movie, the Scottish noblemen Mornay and Lochlan were bribed by Longshanks with land and gold, making them betray Wallace in battle. As revenge, Wallace and his men stormed their homes and killed them. The movie is primarily based on historical facts and was shown from the perspective of the Scots. Therefore, the theme of Scottish antipathy reflects feelings from the Scots during their battles for freedom.
Arguably, no film has had more influence on Scotland's sense of self than Braveheart. It aroused a sense of national identity that propelled the Scottish National Party's campaign for devolution. In that 1997 referendum, Scots voted for an independent parliament and control their own domestic policies. After the movie's release, people felt anger when they didn't know who William Wallace was and what he had fought for. The Scottish thought that they had been cheated of their history. This anger facilitated the reconstruction of the Scottish imagination. It encouraged the belief that Scotland needed to separate from England, even if it had to make its own opportunities. While Braveheart showed many historical facts, it was outweighed by historical inaccuracies, even for Hollywood standards. The use of "bad history" is dangerous. It manipulates people into believing something is real when it isn't and skews their views and understanding of important social or political standings. In the case of Braveheart, the historical inaccuracies are as follows:
Jus Primae Noctis – did not happen during the time that Braveheart is set.
Occupation and Independence – Scotland had been invaded by England only the year before Wallace's rebellion. Before the death of King Alexander III, it had been an entirely separate kingdom. The movie shows that Scotland had been under English rule since Wallace was a child.
The portrayal of William Wallace – not a nationalist guerilla as the movie had portrayed him to be.
The portrayal of Isabella of France – she was about three years old at the time. Definitely, she was not pregnant with Wallace's baby.
The portrayal of Robert the Bruce – the nickname of "Braveheart" actually belonged to Robert! He also did not fight on the English side during the Battle of Falkirk, although (like the movie) he did switch from the English to the Scottish side several times.
The portrayal of Longshanks and Prince Edward – Longshanks was ruthless; however, he was also a religious man and a devoted husband to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. So the scene where he berates Isabella of France for donating her remaining gold would not be accurate. Also, because she was a child, not an adult. However, Prince Edward II was actually a gay man, not effeminate as the movie suggests. He did not appoint his lover to be his advisor.
Wallace's military campaign – the Irish did not fight with Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk.
These historical inaccuracies did not stop the supporters of Scottish nationalism from using the film to promote their cause. Members of the Scottish National Party would stand outside theaters, handing out pamphlets to movie-goers. The party's leader (Alex Salmond) mentioned that Wallace was a campaigner for Scottish independence and would have fought alongside Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Salmond is now the former First Minister of Scotland and a massive supporter of the Yes side in the referendum.
Braveheart's impact on Scotland is a perfect example of how movies, cinema, and other forms of artistic media have on current social standings and people's ideas. For better or worse. In Braveheart's case, Anglophobia did increase in Scotland, however, not to the point of calling it "xenophobia," as The Economist proclaimed. There were no deaths due to hate crimes, and employers did not discriminate when hiring workers because they were from England.
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