Halloween and Christmas are behind us for another year, so let’s set sights on an important holiday for our Scottish neighbours. Burns Night takes place on the 25th January, and Cineworld cinemas in Scotland are getting an extra special line-up of films to celebrate the occasion.
A celebration of the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns, once you’ve had your traditional dinner of haggis, neeps, and tatties, why not take yourself to your local Cineworld branch and watch two Scottish film classics.
From the 90s classic Braveheart, to a more recent favourite, The Angels’ Share, Cineworld cinemas in Scotland will be showing both on the 25th January, with tickets costing just £5.99 each.
Need to be inaugurated into the world of Scottish cinema? Here are some facts about these two films and their cultural significance to convince you you need to see them on the big screen.
Braveheart (1995)
Mel Gibson was reluctant to take on the role of William Walace. In fact, he even put the directorial project off, but was unable to shake the script from his mind. He ultimately picked up directing, producing, and starring credits, with Paramount Pictures only willing to finance Braveheart if Gibson took on the main role.
Brad Pitt was initially considered for the role before Gibson agreed – and what a different movie it would have been. We’re here for Gibson’s earnest performance in Braveheart.
The majority of filming took place in Ireland, with extras including 1,600 members of the IAR (Irish Army Reserve).
The run time of Braveheart was initially 195 minutes, but the head of Paramount at the time requested it be cut down to 177 minutes – so you’d better savour every last second. Gibson killed his darlings for this one. Though there is a 4 hour version in the archives we’re all still manifesting.
Obviously with any historical tale, creative license has to be considered. No, Braveheart is not always the most historically accurate, but we’re all having fun here, aren’t we? Our favourite discretion has to be the fact that tomatoes were thrown at Wallace (spoiler alert) at his execution – but it would be over 200 years after Wallace died that tomatoes would arrive in Europe from America. When life gives you tomatoes…?
The Angels' Share (2012)
From the medieval age of Braveheart to something a touch more modern comes Ken Loach’s The Angels’ Share. It follows as Robbie is sentenced to community service, during which his girlfriend, Leonie, goes into labour. Endeavouring to turn over a new leaf and offer a safe environment for his son to grow up in, a visit to a whisky distillery could prove life changing for him and his fellow group of misfits: Albert, Mo, and Rhino.
Critically acclaimed, The Angels’ Share took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Paul Brannigan, who plays lead Robbie, had actually done time in prison himself, and was discovered by screenwriter Paul Laverty when the latter was making visits to youth centres in order to capture the essence of how the youth felt about Scotland at that time.
The title of the film comes from the percentage of whisky lost to evaporation while aging in oak barrels aka “the angels’ share”.
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