Film scripts are written in reverse so that everything we see at the end is led up to in the film itself. Braveheart, directed by its star, Mel Gibson, is a splendid example of this process.

The lat two scenes of the film show the public torture and execution of William Wallace and the re-emergence of Scottish power as Robert the Bruce finally takes on his cause and leads the Scots to victory at the battle of Bannockburn. The film is based on historical fact but the truth has been distorted to make a more effective film.

The execution sequence opens with a pair of dwarves entertaining the crowd with a mock execution. Gibson included this scene, because it’s the kind of thing that would of took place all those years ago. The effect that the mock execution has on the crowd stands out in the film. It gets the crowd going and many people would say it was a good day out for the whole family.

Wallace is then shown being hauled through the crowd, attached to a cart. When he was brought into the square Wallace was bound, arms and head to a cross. This structure reminded me of Jesus.

In the scene immediately before the execution, Wallace was shown in his cell, praying

Then we cut to the Inquisitor whose concern we have already noted. If Wallace confesses now the inquisitor will need to be able to show mercy and spare him the pain promised by the sharp instruments of which we are all too aware. The Inquisitor announces that the prisoner wishes to speak. He clearly expects a confession, but to his surprise Wallace screams freedom. Following this we see a shot of the princess weeping, which gives the effect of her feeling for Wallace.

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