I. The Life and Historical Background of William Wallace
There is no detailed historical record of William Wallace's early life, but based on some sources and the depiction of the movie "Braveheart", we can get some insight into his early experience.
He was born around 1270 as the son of an ordinary small landowning family in Scotland, and although his family was of low status, according to the film, William received a good education in his youth, learning culture, history and fighting skills.
Growing up in William, Scotland was under oppression under English rule, and the film depicts the brutal rule of King Edward I of England, as well as the oppression and exploitation of the Scottish people, which may have had a profound impact on William and inspired his strong desire for freedom and justice.
According to the plot of the film, there were also some tragic events in William's early life, his father and brother were killed by the English army, which made him full of hatred and determination for the ruler of England, and these personal tragedies are likely to have an important impact on William's character, making him a tenacious and brave warrior.
2. Plot overview of the film
Braveheart is a film based on the story of William Wallace, a national hero in Scottish history. The following will introduce the beginning and end of the story.
The beginning of the story presents William Wallace's early life and upbringing, and presents his views on the brutal oppression of English rule.
After his father and brother were killed by English troops, William left his hometown to enter the abbey for education and training, where he met two friends, Morpheus and Hannock, and formed a close alliance with the Scottish nobleman Robert the Bruce.
Over time, William Wallace became more and more aware that the Scottish people needed a leader to rebel against the rulers of England, he began to organize guerrillas, launched attacks, and gradually gained more supporters, William's strategy and leadership allowed his resistance to spread throughout Scotland, inspiring people to pursue freedom and independence.
King Edward I of England sent the nobleman Lonsdale to quell the rebellion, which was brutally suppressed by brutal means, but William Wallace's army persisted in resistance, achieving a series of victories, and their resistance aroused wider popular support in Scotland and inspired a nationwide wave of uprisings.
William Wallace and his army defeated the English army with surprising tactics, capturing an important victory that greatly inspired the people of Scotland, and William became a national hero with wider support.
The whole story begins and turns to show the process of William Wallace's gradual growth from an ordinary person to a leader, and also reflects the struggle of the Scottish people to resist foreign oppression, and the climactic victory reflects the final victory of free will and courage represented by William Wallace, and also symbolizes the Scottish people's pursuit of freedom and independence.
III. Thematic Discussion
"Braveheart" centers on William Wallace, telling the story of the Scottish people's rebellion and pursuit of freedom against the rulers of England, in which the Scots are brutally oppressed by the rulers of England, they are deprived of their freedom and dignity, and William Wallace, as an ordinary farmer, sees the suffering of his family and compatriots and decides to rise up and resist.
They not only bravely resisted on the battlefield, but also actively inspired people, passing on the desire for freedom to the people of Scotland, and their actions inspired more and more people to join the resistance, forming a force to be reckoned with.
Freedom is not only to get rid of the oppression of foreign rulers, but also to pursue the true state of life in the heart, the Scottish people pursue freedom, hoping to preserve their culture, traditions and independent identity, they are willing to fight for freedom, even risk their lives.
William Wallace and his supporters paid a huge price, losing loved ones, friends, and even their own lives, and they stood by their faith, unwaveringly pursued freedom, and ultimately achieved an important victory.
By showing the story of William Wallace, the film "Braveheart" highlights how important the pursuit of freedom and independence is for the people, and it calls on people to bravely resist oppression, stand up to their beliefs, and fight for freedom. This theme is not only applicable to Scottish history, but also inspires viewers to pursue freedom and dignity in real life.
The film Braveheart also touches on the theme of national identity and cultural preservation, an important theme for the Scottish people.
Proud of their Scottish identity and eager to preserve their culture, traditions and values, William Wallace, as a Scottish who deeply identified with and loved his people, worked hard to defend the dignity and rights of Scots by resisting the rulers of England.
In particular, the spirit of freedom and bravery of the Scottish people is prominently reflected in the story, and these cultural elements are not only the distinctive identity of the Scottish people, but also the core of their national identity.
William Wallace and his supporters stood firmly against this erosion and worked to preserve and pass on their cultural heritage, expressing a strong commitment to cultural preservation by celebrating Scottish traditions, using the Scottish language and upholding the Scottish way of life.
In the film "Braveheart", the people of Scotland faced the oppression and colonial rule of the rulers of England, they were deprived of their freedom, dignity and rights, and faced cruel oppression and injustice, William Wallace and his supporters showed fearless courage, they decided to rise up and no longer submit to the oppressors.
By showing the struggle of the guerrillas led by William Wallace against the rulers of England, the film emphasizes the importance of courage, who faced great risks and difficulties, but who persevered and fought for freedom and justice, and they risked their lives to fight against the oppressors with courage and determination, thus inspiring more people to join the resistance.
William Wallace and his supporters inspired the entire people of Scotland by standing up bravely against oppression, and their actions awakened awareness, fueled their desire for freedom, and ultimately drove change. Their courage and determination became the driving force behind the liberation movement, breaking the shackles of oppression and colonial rule.
Emphasizing the theme of courage to confront oppression and colonial rule, Braveheart encourages viewers to confront oppression and injustice, and inspires the indomitable struggle for freedom and justice by showing the courage of William Wallace and his supporters.
Braveheart is an important and complex theme in the film, loyalty. William Wallace and his supporters devoted all their loyalty to freedom in Scotland, they were willing to give everything for this goal, they believed in their convictions, they firmly pursued freedom and justice, and they remained loyal to the Scottish people.
The betrayal of some characters, in the face of pressure and conflicts of interest, who choose to betray the cause of William Wallace and Scottish Liberty reveals the complexity of human nature, showing that loyalty is not always unconditional, but is influenced by various factors.
William Wallace, as a leader, faces a trade-off between personal loyalty and the interests of the Scottish people, and he must deal with the contradiction between personal emotions and responsibilities, facing choices and sacrifices, which highlights the complexity of human nature and the difficulty of making choices in difficult situations.
The film also highlights the diversity of human nature by portraying the motivations and behaviors of different characters, each with their own backgrounds, motivations and values, whose choices and actions demonstrate the complexity of human nature, and the audience is led to think about the various dimensions and conflicts of human nature and understand the dilemmas people face when deciding between loyalty and betrayal.
Braveheart explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexity of human nature. It reveals the complexities of loyalty when tested, explores the relationship between the individual and the collective, and presents images of human diversity and conflict, through which the viewer is guided to think about and understand the complexity of human nature and the struggle to make choices in difficult situations.
4. The artistic expression of the film
The film "Braveheart" presents a wonderful performance in terms of photography and scene design, and in terms of photography, the film uses magnificent natural landscapes and carefully composed pictures to enhance the atmosphere and emotional expression of the plot.
Scotland's beautiful landscapes, vast grasslands and spectacular highlands have become the visual highlights of the film, and by using a wide range of shots and wide-angle lenses, the audience can feel the magnificent scenery of Scotland, while also highlighting the shock and tension of the battle scenes in the play.
In battle scenes and important moments, sunlight casts bright beams through the clouds, creating an atmosphere of heroism and determination, while in oppressive and dark plots, dark lights and shadows are used to emphasize the inner struggles and pains of the characters.
In terms of scene design, the film carefully reproduces the historical background and cultural atmosphere of Scotland in the 13th century, castles, villages and war camps and other scenes are meticulously restored to the style of the time, and the design of costumes and props is also in line with the historical background of the time, showing the lifestyle and cultural traditions of the Scottish people.
Through careful photography and scene design, the film successfully creates a strong historical atmosphere and dramatic effect, the audience can immerse themselves in the magnificent natural scenery, feel the tension and touching of the plot, and the fine scenes also provide the necessary background and situation for the development of the story, enhancing the audience's sense of substitution.
"Braveheart" presents a wonderful performance in photography and scene design, through magnificent natural scenery, careful picture composition and meticulous scene reproduction, the film successfully creates a strong visual impact and historical atmosphere, bringing the audience a unique and unforgettable viewing experience.
"Braveheart" won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Acoustics. The achievement of these awards showcases the film's outstanding performance in technology and art, and establishes it as the best of the year.
Telling the story through retrospective and flashback, this narrative style brings freshness to the audience and enhances the dramatic and emotional layers of the story, making the audience more engaged.
The theme and plot of the film "Braveheart" explores the Scottish people's desire and struggle for freedom, it inspires national pride and independence movement in Scotland, prompts more people to pay attention to Scotland's history and culture, and its success inspires more historical films, and has influenced later films in terms of narrative, photography and scenography.
"Braveheart" has an important place in the history of film, it has been a commercial success, won several Oscars, its unique narrative style has attracted the attention of the audience, the theme of the film has also triggered social repercussions, influenced the Scottish independence movement, and had a certain impact on subsequent films.