Sparking a revolution

Braveheart is often credited with helping gather momentum for the Scottish Nationalist movement, and the eventual devolution of power which led to a Scottish Parliament for the first time.

“I became really aware of what a piece of art could do to change things.” recalls Gibson, “It started the ball rolling on some stuff, I think some people want to make you feel guilty about that.

“It hit a chord, and I think every culture is, no matter where you come from, looking for that identity.  And to have it displayed to the world and for it to be something you feel, it does make a deep mark.”

“And people say, ‘oh you messed up history,’ but there’s very little history about the man. There wasn’t somebody following him around writing, but he did exist, and he did have an impact in his own time.”

Another direct product of the film, and the renewed fascination with all things Wallace was a new statue, placed outside the Wallace monument near Stirling.

Designed by sculptor Tom Church, the statue included the word Braveheart on the shield, and the word ‘Freedom’ on the base, and bore an uncanny resemblance to a certain Hollywood actor.

Unlike the film the statue was not well received, and after numerous incidents, including the face being smashed with a hammer, a cage was placed around it to prevent further attacks.

One Scottish journalist summed up the sentiment toward the statue, describing it ‘like a blow-up doll, its mouth wide open and beady eyes starring at you. Just ugly.’

In 2008 the statue was removed to, in official language ‘make way for a new restaurant and visitor’s centre’.

It wasn’t just the unfortunate decoration that was to receive criticism in the backlash, however, the film had plenty to answer for also.

"I'm aware of what I did," says Gibson. "That's why I haven't been back."

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