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BRAVEHEART (1995)

Director: Mel Gibson

ALTHOUGH presented as an "historical epic" this film really deals with myth rather than history, specifically the quasi-historical national myth on which Scotland bases its sense of identity. Accordingly, its hero, William Wallace, has more in common with King Arthur in Boorman's Excalibur than, say, with one of the astronauts in Apollo 13 - a film which tries to convey accurately what actually happened.

Pointing out, as many reviewers have, Braveheart's numerous historical errors is mostly irrelevant, gross as they are. For example, the only date we are given, "Scotland, 1280 AD", is wrong, whilst the film's romance between the Scots patriot hero and the wife of the heir to the English throne is even less likely than a modern fling between Alex Salmond and Princess Di for the simple reason that at the time in question Isabella of France differed from the modern Princess of Wales in being physically as well as emotionally five years old.

Characters, as in myth but rarely in fact, are stereotypes. Wallace is Conan in a kilt. Robert the Bruce's father is a sinister scheming leper redolent of the Galactic Emperor in the Star Wars films. Whilst Edward I of England is a suitably psychopathically villainous Darth Vader.

Its purpose, however, is to inspire rather than to instruct. Cheers from packed cinemas across Scotland - and a few extra percent for the SNP in the polls - testify to its success. Whilst the film's history may be bunk, it reveals a deeper truth, the truth that nations live on myth, and, anyway, myth is usually more exciting than reality. This film shows the way it ought to have happened. Don't miss it!

BOB CARRICK - 17 December 1995