Braveheart is a 1995 epic drama film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace. Gibson portrays Sir William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish knight who gained recognition when he came to the forefront of the First War of Scottish Independence by opposing King Edward I of England, also known as "Longshanks" (Patrick McGoohan).
The film won five Academy Awards at the 68th Academy Awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, and had been nominated for an additional five.
In 1280 A.D., King Edward "Longshanks" (Patrick McGoohan) of England, has occupied much of southern Scotland, declared himself King of Scotland, and his oppressive rule there leads to the deaths of William Wallace's father and brother. Years later, after Wallace has been raised abroad by his uncle Argyle (Brian Cox), the Scots continue to live under the iron fist of Longshanks' cruel laws. Wallace returns, intent on living as a farmer and avoiding involvement in the ongoing "troubles". Wallace seeks out and courts Murron, whom he knew as a child in the village, and the two marry in secret to avoid the decree of primae noctis the King has set forth. When an English soldier tries to rape Murron, Wallace fights off several soldiers and the two attempt to flee, but the village magistrate captures Murron. Declaring Murron's assault to be the same as if she had assaulted the King, the magistrate ties Murron to a pole and, in an attempt to draw Wallace out, executes her by slitting her throat. When Wallace rides back into the village moments later to find what has happened, he and the men in the village rise up against the magistrate and the English soldiers. Wallace gets his retribution on the magistrate by assassinating him in the same manner that the magistrate had executed Murron. (wiki)
