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Running head: MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL

SIGNIFICANCE

Movies Review: Their Literature and Historical Significance

Nitesh Katuwal

LIT 121b: World Literature

14 June 2020

Mrs. Deepa Silwal

Westcliff University
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract

Upon completion of various literary works of different backgrounds of culture, time period and

language, the paper on the contrary handles acknowledgements of two movies ‘Braveheart’ and

‘Stalingrad’ of two different backgrounds of historical time period and themes. However, both

movies are themed upon the wars between the countries, first scots are trying to retain the

freedom from the colonization of English and other is the defense operated by five soldiers on

Stalingrad against massive German reinforcement, respectively. Furthermore, the paper deals

with the narrative structure, literary values and regards, historical significance, themes and

messages for both movies separately.

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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Braveheart Review

Mel Gibson’s ‘Braveheart’ is a movie (1995), themed upon the clamorous red-blooded

epic battle subjecting legendary Scots warrior, William Wallace, who is raging war against

English, that rolls around the 14th Century. Besides, it consists of an exciting story of passion,

loyalty and treachery. The movie is very generic, in the sense that it has maintained the

chronology of the events that occur in the storyline of the movie. However, most importantly,

Braveheart does not sufficiently line up with actual historical phenomena, rather deals more

regarding the myths. But, the events spread in a generic chronology of Wallace’s life from his

birth to his execution. Thus, Braveheart’s storyline is structured basing upon the screenplay

structures such as Real-time and multiple timeline structure, without violating the historical

chronology. (miyamoto, 2018) Moreover, Gibson has adequately succeeded in captivating the

audience's emotion, because of the involvement of tragic romance, betrayal, dignity and tastes of

redemption.

In the movie, Wallace’s main antagonist is Longshank (King Edward), portrayed slightly

cunning, mannered, and false interpreter as he interprets the events piling up thrilling scenes,

because the interpretations by him are rare to occur. (Ebert, 1995) The central conflict of the

movie can be understood through Wallace's crying “Freedom’ out loud ahead of his execution,

along with the courage of retaliation against Longshank as English had executed Wallace’s wife

Murron. The academy award winning Movie Braveheart by Gibson resolves its central conflicts

much favorably than it could have been any other way. The ending suggests and supports the

argument, as scots are liberated, while Wallace's boldness and fortitude on retaining freedom is

fulfilled by defeating Englishmen in epic battles through his courageous and bravery influences.
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Mel Gibson, Director and Wallace’s Portrayal, plays his role with magnificence,

smashing it in mild humor and ambition. As the theme of the movie can be justified as the cold

relationship between Scottish and English, class battles, patriotism, love as well as trickery and

betrayal. The movie, however, is successful in presenting its theme clearly enough, but in a

world full of natural rights, Braveheart could contradictorily gain critics, as it is violating the

right to life in the revolution of Longshanks. As of the generic movie development, Braveheart is

also one of a kind to favor the protagonist, which is also a typical framework of world literature.

Mel Gibson, and his screenwriter, Randall Wallace, remained quite close to the historical sense,

but operated more with narratives and imperatives needed to develop a dynamic movie. Though

this might be the concern for history experts, we have to appreciate the Hollywood blockbuster

for its features, rather than searching for specific history lessons. (Valletta, 2018)

Moreover, Braveheart’s story correlates comprehensively to the world literature, as the

generic basic structure found in classic ancient literature are likely developed as the plots and

concept of Braveheart. In the literary point of view, Braveheart can be regarded as Scottish

liberalism, while the story focuses on Scottish freedom and dignity prompted by William

Wallace. Besides, the story continues even after the execution of Wallace, which is unique and

captivating for the literature world. Even though narration and dialogues struggle to find their

way as if in the 14th Century, Mel Gibson came up with the most relatable narrative that we

could see and fit in the literature, as most conversations deal with liberalism, freedom, romance,

and conspiracies. (Clifford, 2018) Overall, the movie upholds a pretty thin reality of history, but

is a well done blockbuster with 5 different Academy Awards (Oscar), and is much admirable and

entertaining.
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Stalingrad Review

Russian based movie, ‘Stalingrad’, directed by Fedor Bondarchuk in 2013 is an astonishing

world war movie, directed by Russian, subjecting solidarity defense against Germans, developed

in accordance to the mythologies of Stalingrad. In favor of the mythical chronicle of Stalingrad

caught up in the wicked cycle of war, directionality of historical time is defined in the movie.

Along with the sense of generic Hollywood war movies, Fedor pursued Non-linear oneiric

structure to theme the movie on war of course as well as romance and glory. However,

designating the movie with the name “Stalingrad”, the generic plots would consist massive

actions of World War II, but it’s an unlikely circumstances and analogy of Fedor Bondarchuk

and screenwriters to develop a war famed movie with much involvement of romance and unique

action-packed in the only city Stalingrad. (Kostetskaya, 2016)

The story begins with the storytelling of a rescue worker to German children trapped during the

wake of a tsunami under a wreckage building, about how a man could be a son of five fathers.

Upon which the scene converts to the wreckage of buildings caused by destructive war, where

five of the Russian soldiers are residing on one of those wrecked buildings, eventually

encountering a lady, Katya, whose family was killed and she was left all alone. The soldiers

grow fond of her, when the movie develops its plots and Stalingrad’s manifestation, where they

wait for the Germans to come and defend the City. Germans on the other hand are portrayed as

beastly as the common belief of them during the war. By the end of the movie, Katya has spent

time with all of the five soldiers with different features, who are killed along with the Germans

on air strike, which left Katya alone and broken-hearted.

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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The narrator’s perception explored by Fedor is very convincing and unique because of the

historical relationship they had between Germans, Japanese and Russians. I am quite agreeing on

his terms of portraying Germans as beastly. For the consolation to the natural right, Story finds at

least one slightly genuine German soldier who confesses to the lady who he’s just raped, about

him being so abominable because of the war. Moreover, on the Russian side, youths are

influenced by the feeling and emotions along with the patriotism they reflect, glorifying Russia.

(Ebert, RogerEbert, 2014)

Various war movies, that are influenced and inspired by the notable events and heroic

performance of the soldiers, are developed as movies. Generic war movies are quite relatable, as

they sequence more on actions and executions and country’s glory. While Stalingrad has the

unique concept of presenting the glory and bravery of Russians. The theme of the movie is still

valid if we acknowledge the circumstances of world war, but there is less chance of those wars

occurring again. The message from the movie is rather the compassion and passion of the

patriotic soldiers along with the youngness they miss while their youth is being spent defending

their nation.

Likewise, the movie is preferable to the World Literature division, since the movie supports and

synchronizes the literary harmony of wars, romance and youth of the soldiers involved in the

war. However, the literature professionalism could inspire the characters with more of the

literary dialogues and choices in the story.

Overall, the movie's narrative can be considered as of the mythologies of Stalingrad, where the

heroic soldiers have fought and sacrificed for their nation for their nation. There does not exist

any fact to support potential reality, however, the time period suggests the generic composition
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
of typical war, which includes battle, solidarity goals, patriotism and youths. The movie is well

developed, captivating and Russian standard war representation which is astonishing and

convincing.
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Conclusion

The movies that are developed in accordance with ancient mythologies or influential

historical events, are most likely to involve in the world literature class, since the directors and

screenwriters tend to develop it in such a way to captivate the audiences with the adventures or

generic literary themes. Both above reviewed movies are more myths than reality. William

Wallace’s mythical biography flowed throughout Braveheart, where he seeks freedom for the

Scots and retaliation against longshanks. On the other hand, five Russian Soldiers are struggling

their life to defend Stalingrad in the movie ‘Stalingrad’, subjecting the myths of the glorious

Russians. The movies are of high preference. Besides, Braveheart has successfully named

themselves for five Academy Awards, whereas ‘Stalingrad’ is a unique Russian based war movie

consisting the sense of the Hollywood theme and grossing the highest Box office for non-English

language film.
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MOVIES REVIEW: THEIR LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
References

Cliffbord, D. (2018, March 25). the American William Wallace Why Braveheart is Has More

American Ideology than Scottish Ideology. Retrieved from researchgate:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328453800_The_American_William_Wallace_

Why_Braveheart_is_Has_More_American_Ideology_than_Scottish_Ideology

Ebert, R. (1995, May 24). rogerebert.com. Retrieved from

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/braveheart-1995

Ebert, R. (2014, February 28). RogerEbert. Retrieved from

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stalingrad-2013

Kostetskaya, A. (2016, 7 March). Stalingrad re-imagined as mythical chronotope: Fedor

Bondarchuk’s Stalingrad in IMAX 3D. Retrieved from

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17503132.2016.1151140?

src=recsys&journalCode=rrsc20

miyamoto, K. (2018, January 16). Screencraft. Retrieved from

https://screencraft.org/2018/01/16/10-screenplay-structures-that-screenwriters-can-use/

Valletta, E. (2018, 23 March). SBS. Retrieved from

https://www.sbs.com.au/movies/article/2018/03/19/how-much-braveheart-really-

happened