“Freedom!”, that was the last word and the dying cry of William Wallace, before he was beheaded due to high treason and crimes against Englishmen. Braveheart is an Academy Award winning film starred and directed by Mel Gibson released in 1995. Out of ten Academy Award nominations, Braveheart won five awards including the Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Director. It was a film that amplified the concerns regarding oppression and freedom, specifically the feud between Scottish and Englishmen around the year 1300. A heartbreaking, yet inspiring story that speaks about a movement overcoming the concept of superiority, unfair government system, and equality. How a simple farmer became a legendary Scots warrior, who led his nation on a battle against the Englishmen, all began from a cultural conflict. An incident of crime and injustice that ignited a fire of patriotism among —the Scottish people the passion for revolution.
A collision of cultural beliefs and values between the Scottish and Englishmen happened when the law “Prima Nocta” was implemented by the King of England. It was a legal right of the English nobles to sleep with any women, particularly on the first night of her marriage. As someone who was not able to adopt his parents’ culture as military soldiers, William Wallace grew up in a culture centered in peace and submission under the care of his uncle, Argyle, after his parents died. Thus, William Wallace married his childhood sweetheart, Murron, in secret to protect her from English nobles after the “Prima Nocta” was implemented. However, after the secret marriage happened, Murron was attemptedly raped by English soldiers. Even though William Wallace tried to save Murron, the soldiers captured her on their second attempt, then proceeded on executing her. Aside from the reason that she was deemed as disrespectful for defending herself, the English nobles thought that her death will force William Wallace to surrender. Due to this horrendous incident, a passionate anger was awaken inside William Wallace’s heart, that made him adapt his parents’ culture. This is when Inculturation happened in the film. An evident adaptation of a culture centered in war, ferocity, and revolution. As William Wallace’s quest continued, his story was sensationalized to different clans that influenced them to have the same passion for revolution, which allowed the fight for freedom become stronger and powerful. The willingness to bleed in the name of independence made Acculturation happen from one clan to another. However, the revolution that William Wallace have started to gain independence from the Englishmen did not go easy and smoothly. There were many Scottish soldiers and civilians that died on battles, because apart from the war armors that English soldiers have, they are always outnumbered by them. In addition to this, when William Wallace was seeking help and unison to the clans who have not joined him yet, a lot of clans chose to accept the bribery of the King of England, instead of joining the movement of revolution for Scotland. Hence, William Wallace was betrayed numerous times, especially when he trusted Robert The Bruce to help him unite the other clans, but Robert The Bruce chose to turn his back and serve the King of England. Despite all these, giving up never became an option to William Wallace. Inspite of being outnumbered by English soldiers and being bribed by the Princess of England with gold and islands, William Wallace chose to be true on his core, chose to still stand, and chose to continue what he had started. This kind of attitude shined through that dark time and inspired his countrymen to still fight, regardless of the challenges and struggles they are facing. Even after William Wallace died on the hands of English nobles, his death that seemed to be a defeat became a much bigger inspiration to continue the revolution to freedom. Instead of fear, his death left a passionate and patriotic heart to Scotland. It is when actions supporting and valuing one’s culture are being practiced, culture becomes indestructible and influential.
The film Braveheart mirrors a lot of events in history, particularly in The Philippines. As a country that has been colonized by Spain for more than 300 years, Filipinos learned to be submissive to Spaniards. However, we also had a legendary national hero similar to William Wallace —his name was Andres Bonifacio. According to Hispanic Division Library of Congress, Andres Bonifacio was a fervent Filipino nationalist, who became one of the first members of La Liga Filipina established by Jose Rizal in 1892. He founded Katipunan, when he decided to start a revolution to gain the country’s independence, after Jose Rizal was arrested by the Spanish the same year. After many years of revolution, Andres Bonifacio was arrested and charged with treason and sedition by President Emilio Aguinaldo. He was executed in 1897 by a firing squad. Although William Wallace and Andres Bonifacio both died on the hands of their enemies, history is the witness how these uncanny similar events have inspired their respective countrymen to continue the revolution they have started and have a patriotic heart for their country. These events that are now filed under history books are very important to our country. Without the people who bought freedom using their blood, we will not gain our independence. Thus, the culture of having a heart to fight for what is right by creating collective voices when faced with oppression was passed to us. A movement that calls for basic human decency and fair justice, despite the oppression, injustices, and abuse of power we are currently experiencing by our own government. It seems like we are still at the time we were colonized, but this time by our own people. Especially with everything that is happening in our country in the midst of a pandemic. After gaining independence from the Spaniards for more than 100 years now, the question still remains —are Filipino people truly free?
