The problem with Braveheart

I must be one of the few people left who – up til today – had not seen the movie about Sir William Wallace played by that well known Australian actor Mel Gibson. So there I was with a pile of ironing to do  and needed something to distract me  ( in a safe way you understand) and found that we had a copy of this movie in Video format.

Within the first few minutes I realised that it had a lot in common with that wonderful whimsical musical Brigadoon. The accents were awful. Not just Mel’s – even the Scottish actors had mixed and confused accents – from Glasgow via the Highlands with a touch or Ireland thrown in.

So instead of being distracted from my ironing – I was being distracted from the story. Now I have to admit  ( to my great shame) that Scottish history is a bit hazy to me. We did learn dates and battles at primary school and I knew the Battle of Bannockburn was in 1314 but that was pretty much it.

A couple of months ago though I went to the Wallace Monument near Stirling. The Wallace story is set out there – with a nod to Braveheart – and it as very interesting. The movie served to whip up Scottish patriotism though – and did it well. My father is English but as a Graham must have originated in Scotland. Like many Scottish families they probably switched sides depending on how things were going.

My worry was that I had always thought of Robert the Bruce as a bit of a hero – but, unless the movie has played fast and loose with facts ( as if) he wasn’t. That story about him and the spider does not sound such a good one to give as an example.

Ho hum. Our brave William carried his beloved’s hankie with him at all times – yeah right. After the most awful battering he ended up with a lovely wee cut in his beautiful forehead. Hmmm.

OK – it was meant to be entertaining not historically accurate. The fact I am writing about it means that it was.

The music and scenery were wonderful.

Enough said.