BRAVEHEART 39
Reel History Versus Real History
The movie follows Kovic’s autobiography faithfully, but, to heighten melodrama, it
does resort to falsification in at least two major ways. In real ity Kyra Sedgwick’s
character, Donna, never existed. The prom scene, Ron’s visit to Syracuse, his per-
sonal involvement in the protest, and police crack- down— none of these events
actually happened, though Kovic did watch the demonstration on tele vi sion. In
his memoir he recalls being outraged by the treatment of the protestors; their vic-
timization reminded him of the way he and his fellow veterans had been treated
after they returned home. In the movie Ron Kovic is shown visiting Wilson’s par-
ents and widow and confessing to them that he accidentally killed Wilson in com-
bat. In real ity, the meeting never took place. Kovic did admit to the shooting in
his book— a far cry from an in- person apology and obviously not cinematic.
Braveheart (1995)
Synopsis
Braveheart is an American war epic directed by and starring Mel Gibson, who
portrays William Wallace, a late 13th- century Scottish warrior who led the Scots
in the First War of Scottish In de pen dence against King Edward I of England.
Adapted for the screen by Randall Wallace, the film derives from Scottish poet
Blind Harry’s epic poem The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun
Schir William Wallace.
William Wallace (Mel Gibson, right) leads the Scots in a 13th- century war for in de pen-
dence from England in Gibson’s Braveheart (1995). (20th Century Fox/Photofest)