The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #70688   Message #1940225
Posted By: billbunter
18-Jan-07 - 03:37 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: Braveheart...again
Subject: RE: Folklore: Braveheart...again
Probably, this has all been said elsewhere but as kilts probably only appeared in the 1600's the Irish in the film are dressed much as the Scots would have been. The nobles, as has been pointed out, should have been dressed like the English, Edward speaking French, Bruce too. Stirling bridge was a piece of brilliant opportunism not very well shown in the film, Maybe they should have shown The English lord's body being flayed after the battle- The one thing about the film which surprised me was the death of Wallace. that was uterly underplayed and non violent compared to the reality.

Given all that, I don't think Wallace would have minded the film at all. Although he accepted the feudal system, he was still very much a people's man I think. And one thing for certain - he was heroic by anybodys standards. Anyone who could stand up to the English Army - at he time the finest in the Western world as he did, and remain steadfastly loyal to a lost cause is heroic.

His last words are all that is definitely known beyond oral tradition (I don't knock oral tradition - its often proven true)They were reported by some neutral French chronicler at the mock 'trial'. He reports that a scuffle broke out and Wallace shouted something like

'I was never a traitor. You were never my king and while the breath remains in this poor body you never shall be.'

That's a hero.