| Genre: | Drama |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Rating: | R |
| Length: | 177 min |
| Country: | USA |
| Cast: | Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack. |
| Credits: | Directed by Mel Gibson. Music by James Horner. (VHS available in both Pan & Scan and Letterboxed formats.) |
| Awards: | Academy Award
Best Director, Mel Gibson
Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing - Lon Bender, Per Hallberg
Best Makeup - Peter Frampton, Paul Pattison, Lois Burwell
Best Picture - Mel Gibson, Alan Ladd Jr., Bruce Davey
Best Cinematography - John Toll (1996)
National Board of Review, USA
Special Achievement in Filmmaking - Mel Gibson(1996)
Golden Globes
Best Director - Motion Picture - Mel Gibson
MTV Movie Award
Best Movie (1996) |
Synopsis
The daring, patriotic exploits of Scottish rebel William Wallace who launched a bloody guerrilla campaign against the cruel British tyrant king Edward Longshanks is chronicled in this sweeping epic. The story begins as young Wallace witnesses the slaughter of his father at the hands of British soldiers; he is then sent away with his uncle who sees that young William is well-educated throughout Europe. Eventually Wallace returns to his squalid but lively home village where he falls in love with the lovely Murron, whom he secretly marries. The night after their wedding, the
British ride in and end up cutting her throat after she resists their attempts to rape her. In her memory, Wallace begins fighting for Scottish freedom, but though popular with the commoners, he is opposed by powerful but self-serving clan leaders. Robert-the Bruce is sympathetic, but he is too controlled by his evil, ailing father to be much help and ultimately betrays his friend, Wallace continues to fight independently. Many battles are fought, and most of them are graphically presented bloodbaths that some audience members may find difficult to watch. A parallel story follows King Edward's gay son who is forced to marry a feisty French princess, who ends up helping Wallace. In the end, the courageous rebel is vanquished, but not before he sows important seeds of national pride and unity into the minds of his fellow Scotsmen.
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