AFB – Braveheart

An Auto-Film-Biography that follows the movies that create someone who loves movies.

I shall tell you the tale of William Wallace. The king of Scotland had died without a son and the king of England, a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, claimed the throne of Scotland for himself. Scotland’s nobles fought him and fought each other over the crown.

Braveheart is a war movie, a drama, and an epic, but it is actually about love. William Wallace (Mel Gibson) leads a Scottish revolt against the English because he loves his country, but also because he loves his wife (who was murdered by English soldiers). During the war William’s friend says: “You’re doing this because you think she sees you.” William replies: “I don’t think she sees me – I know she does.”

William’s Father Malcolm is described as “a fighter and a patriot.” Malcolm revolted against the English himself with fifteen friends and died doing so. The last thing Malcolm told William before he rode away was, “I know you can fight. But it’s our wits that make us men.” Likewise William’s uncle Argyle says: “First, learn to use this (points to William’s head). Then I’ll teach you to use this,” raising the sword above William’s head, gleaming from the reflection of his Father’s funeral pyre.

Braveheart showcases enormous, brutal conflicts, but we never forget that they are considered, purposeful engagements. Even as we watch soldiers flail while on fire we remember that Wallace had his army spread oil on the fields. “In real life,” my Father explained to me, “the smaller Scottish force had to engage in guerilla warfare.” That is, ambushes, sabotage, and scorched earth strategies. We see a bit of that, but mostly we witness Wallace outsmarting overconfident armies with various tactics. And of course, Braveheart frames those conflicts with inspiring words. Wallace’s famous speech in Braveheart is the modern version of the St. Crispin speech from Henry V:

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! ALBA GU BRÀTH!

I never knew what “Alba gu bràth” meant, but now I know it means “Scotland forever.”

There’s a theatricality to Braveheart, but director Mel Gibson never allows the film’s tone to suggest anything but a resolute earnestness. All the film’s characters speak with conviction. My favourite is Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen). To say he was overacting in Braveheart would be fair, but he does so in glorious fashion. His enunciation of his lines feels like a familiar friend to me now as I repeat them out loud: “I want to beliiiieeeeeve as he does.”

I remember watching the climax of the film. Gradually I moved from laying on the couch, to sitting upright, to kneeling on the floor in front of the TV. My Father called as I knelt there. When I answered the phone I could only reiterate what was happening, and what I thought was going to happen. It would have been a strange call for him. But I was exeriencing something transformative.

I’d seen many great movies leading up to Braveheart. Had many great experiences with films. But there, kneeling in front of the TV, begging it to end how I wanted, I had invested myself in a film differently than I ever had before. Braveheart plays out much like the scene that begins with a mournful, soft warble of the film’s title track. A warrior draws his sword, then tosses it high into an overcast sky. The bagpipes blare in triumph as we watch the cloth tied to the sword’s hilt flutter. As it soars and the music climbs we see the sword carry the film’s momentum. The army begins to chant in unison as the sword penetrates the earth – they’ve been inspired.

Watching Braveheart now I feel inspired too. To paraphrase Wallace: I want to live. I want a home, and children, and peace. I’ve asked God for these things. It’s all for nothing if you don’t have dreams.