Why The Scots Painted Their Faces Blue In Braveheart
Braveheart'sBattle of Stirling Bridge is iconic, and the blue face paint is one of the most remembered parts of the film, but why did the Scots paint their faces blue? Braveheart is based on a true story, but the film has been criticized for being somewhat historically inaccurate. Like Braveheart's story, the aesthetic of blue face paint has been thoroughly examined through historical and creative lenses, all for the purpose of trying to figure out exactly why the Scots use blue face paint in Braveheart.
Braveheart follows the real-life historical figure Sir William Wallace (Mel Gibson) as he leads the Scots against the English in the First War of Scottish Independence. Releasing in 1995, Braveheart has persisted in pop-culture ethos, being nominated for many awards, constantly being parodied and homaged, and spawning a 2019 spin-off film. Braveheart has even inspired movies likeThe Northman, The Patriot, and other historical war dramas. While Braveheart does take some pretty strong creative liberties, it is still considered to be a fantastic film by many, maintaining an 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Related: The Northman's Weird Tease Sets A Challenge For Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2
Braveheart is filled with intense action scenes, but one of the most iconic is the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Before engaging in the battle with the English, who were led by commander Cheltham, many of the Scots apply blue war paint to their faces. In the story of the film, it isn't explicitly stated why they do this. However, there are some pretty common-sense reasons that this paint would help. Firstly, the bright blue paint is an easy identifier for the Scots, letting them know they are on the same team. It could also make the
Read more on screenrant.com
