Braveheart

Context:

Brave heart is a historical drama war epic film directed by Mel Gibson in 1995. The film is starred mainly by Mel Gibson as William Wallace, Sophie Marceau as Isabella of France, and Patrick McGoohan as the King of England—Edward "Longshanks”. The movie is based on the epic poem “The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace” by Blind Harry. It is about a young man named William Wallace and his life fighting for Scotland’s freedom.

In 1280, King Edward "Longshanks" invaded and conquered Scotland after the death of the King Alexander III, since the king left no heir to the throne. Young William Wallace survives the deaths of his family is taken abroad by his uncle on a pilgrimage for education. Years later, Wallace came back to his hometown in Scotland and falls in love with Murron, his childhood friend. He gets into a fight with the English soldiers because he tries to recue Murron from getting rapped. Murron is captured and publicly executed. In retribution, Wallace leads the people in his hometown to fight back and gradually becomes the leader of the Scotches.

In the movie, Wallace influenced thousands of Scotches, and Isabella of the France with his courage and passion. Even after his death, there are Scotches still, inspired by him, fighting for the freedom of their homeland.

This film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, and won the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing awards, and Best Makeup On the 68th Academy Awards in 1996.

What is the artist communicating and how?

•        How—the use of beautiful scenery

The film is about freedom, patriotism, and courage. The film includes all the beautiful scenery of Scotland to express the beauty of the land. Meanwhile, these beautiful sights give the audiences visions of the homeland that Wallace is fighting for which make them sympathize more with William’s patriotism. There are controversies considering the story took place in Scotland, but many of the scenes were actually shot in Ireland. However, most of the shots took in Ireland are on castles. The actual natural beauty of Scotland is mostly taken from the Scottish Highlands: Glencoe, Scotland, and Loch Leven, Scotland. The landscapes are just like Wallace, really wild, tough, but with beauty and awe.

The village Wallace grows up and later falls in love with Murron was filmed in the Glen Nevis Valley at the foot of the highest mountain peak in Britain—Ben Nevis. After Wallace’s revenges on the nobles who betrayed him, he took a trek along the magnificent mountain path, which was filmed on the Mamores, which are all ten mountains linked by a slender ridge between Loch Leven and Glen Nevis. The astounding beauty of natural provokes audiences’ love for the land as well.

•      How—the power of speech

“Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace. (Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.) Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight? (Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.) Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live—at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!

Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)

This speech is made before the battle with England when the Scotch army is out numbered. Using the speech, Wallace encouraged everyone in the army that everyman dies, and they should die for something meaning for. The enemies can take their lives away, but not their dignities, nor the freedom of the land.

Why do I find it beautiful?--The perfect combination of music, plot and the scenery

The film was almost 3 hours long but I wasn’t bored at all. The movie combined the music and the plot perfectly. Bagpipe is the traditional Scottish instrument that is intensively used in the movie. It is used in many pieces to create the atmosphere.

The bagpipes can be used to portray many different kinds of atmospheres. It can be happy and romantic, just like when Wallace returns to the village and meet Murron at the dance; it can be wild and rapid, just like when Wallace takes Murron for the horse ride; it can also be solemn and has a sense of mission in “the legend spreads”. For orchestra music, the Original Sound Track: “Betrayal & desolation” is shocking and stirring. It appeared when Wallace finds out that the nobles and his friend Rob betray him. The OST “freedom” for Wallace’s final execution created a sense of solemn and stirring. First by a horn repeatedly playing the same progressive three tone melodies with the band constantly harmonizing in the background to depict the theme of the magnificent scenery; then the bagpipes in a high-pitched tone started the theme of the hero. With awe and sadness, we will remember the last cry of Wallace during the execution with all his strength: Freedom! Then the music back to the Hero Theme with two themes intertwines with each other. A chorus joins later in the melody, slowly and gracefully, for the praise to the noblest love. This seven minutes finale gives an overview of the film and a powerful end as well. I love all the OST for this movie, because they bring such a heavy sense of culture, and I can visualize the scene even without the pictures.