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Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
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TALK ABOUT MOVIES
February 2005
BRAVEHEART
Directed by Mel Gibson. Starring Mel Gibson, Angus Macfayden, Brendan Gleeson. 177 minutes, 2005, English/French/Latin, USA, Color. Available at Hollywood Video.Matthew: When Wallace says to Robert the Bruce, "You have the rightful title; if only you would lead us," it sounded like a layman addressing his bishop. But instead, the Bruce and the other Scottish nobles, who I think represent our bishops, are in bed with the world. Still, when the Bruce betrays Wallace, Wallace doesn't slit his throat — the Bruce still has the rightful title. He just sits down and stares at the Bruce, as if saying, "What can I do?" He's broken.
Ernie: Longshanks, the English king, would represent the influence of the world — he's buying the nobles with land and titles, exerting power over Scotland, which would be the church. The irony is, the nobles' power just keeps waning, even as they capitulate.
Matthew: To the point where they can't do anything about a genuine evil such as prima nocte.
Ernie: Interesting that it's a sexual license that Longshanks grants. And the nobles don't dare speak out.
Matthew: The Bruce wants to believe as Wallace does, wants his people to serve him out of love and not fear. He wants to be a real pastor.
Ernie: But he keeps succumbing to his father's counsel. He keeps believing that compromise is what's essential to a noble.
* * *
Ernie: English power is presented as almost a constant, an absolute. The film is more concerned with how Scotland will live, its dignity.
Matthew: Right. The world is never going to go away.
Ernie: It's how you deal with it — you can turn and run, or you can get in bed with it. The nobles want worldly position, while that one soldier simply wants to run and hide and live. Wallace rejects both of those.
Matthew: He engages in diplomacy with the world, but he's not willing to give himself away.
Ernie: His father says that what makes a man is his wits, and much is made of Wallace's knowledge of Latin. He has risen to a level of erudition that keeps him from giving in to Longshanks' tactics.