The film Braveheart directed by and starring Mel Gibson is based on the First War of Scottish Independence against England and is led by the Scottish warrior William Wallace. This film depicts the life and influence William Wallace had in 13th century Scotland. Mel Gibson dramatizes the story so that American audiences feel excitement and satisfaction with the film. Through the film's inaccuracies, Braveheart reveals the American view of masculinity, a desire for action and excitement about reality, the importance of freedom, and the desire to see the underdog. The film shows this with Edward II portrayed as a homosexual, the inaccuracies of the battle scenes, and the inaccuracies in William Wallace's education. Stanley Williams wrote the article "The Moral Premise of Braveheart and William Wallace's Moment of Grace." This article shows how the film portrays William Wallace as a selfless human being willing to do anything for freedom. Sid Ray wrote “Hunks, History and Homophobia: The Politics of Masculinity in Braveheart and Edward II.” In this article the author discusses whether perhaps William Wallace was fueled by proving his masculinity more than freedom for his country. This ties back to Dr. Stanley Williams' article, in which he believes that Wallace was solely influenced by achieving freedom for his country. Grame Morton wrote an article on the life and legacy of William Wallace. “The Most Effective Patriot: The Heritage of William Wallace in Nine-tenth-Century Scotland,” shows how Mel Gibson exaggerated scenes from the film to captivate American audiences. James Mackay wrote the book “William Wallace: Brave Heart” which chronicles the life of William Wallace and is used to show how the movie Braveheart has many inaccuracies. T... middle of paper... norms are clearly shown throughout the film and demonstrate what American audiences truly value. Works Cited Braveheart. Dir. Mel Gibson. prod. Mel Gibson. By Randall Wallace. Perf. Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau and Patrick McGoohan. Paramount Pictures, 1995.Mackay, James A. William Wallace: Brave Heart. Edinburgh: Mainstream Pub., 1996. Print.Morton, Graeme. "The Most Effective Patriot: William Wallace's Legacy in Nineteenth-Century Scotland." Scottish Historical Review 204th ser. 77.2 (1998): 224-28. Print.Ray, Sid. “Hunks, history and homophobia: the politics of masculinity in Braveheart and Edward II.” Film and History 29.3/4 (1999): 22-31. Print.Ross, A. “The Wallace Monument and the Recovery of Scotland.” Social text 18.4 65 (2000): 83-107. Print.Williams, Stanley D. "The Moral Premise of BRAVEHEART and William Wallace's Moment of Grace." (2006): n. page Press.