A Tile Films production ‘After Braveheart’, a part-dramatized documentary series exploring events that occurred after the events depicted in Oscar-winning Hollywood film ‘Braveheart’ (which was partially filmed in Ireland), is due to air on Irish television in 2 x 1 hour instalments on Thursday, January 15th and Thursday, January 22nd at 10.15pm.
The series was produced by award winning producer Stephen Rooke (‘Saving the Titanic’, ‘Waterways’) and directed by IFTA-winning director Maurice Sweeney (‘Saving the Titanic’, ‘Cromwell in Ireland’). The DOP of the project was Richard Kendrick while the writer/researcher was David Ryan. The series was executively produced by Stephen Rooke and Seona Robertson.
‘Braveheart’ ends with the Battle of Bannockburn, in which the Scots finally defeat their English oppressors. It was a victory that should have ensured Scottish freedom – but it didn’t. Even after Bannockburn, Scotland’s king Robert Bruce and his brother Edward remained uneasy about the threat of a renewed English invasion. The best form of defence was attack. They decided to invade Ireland and make Edward high king there. In this way they would unite the Celtic nations and drive the English back to their homeland. Now for the first time, these dramatic events will be explored onscreen in the Tile Films docudrama starring Clive Russell (‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Ripper Street’) as Robert Bruce, Douglas Russell (‘Let Us Prey’, ‘Valhalla Rising’) as Edward Bruce, and Stuart McMillan as the Scottish soldier Maon. Dramatic scenes featuring these actors are combined with drama re-enactments and CGI to bring the harsh and violent medieval world to life. The series is narrated by eminent Scottish actor Brian Cox (‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’, ‘The Bourne Supremacy’).
The series was made for RTÉ, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland under a joint initiative launched in 2012 to fund television programmes of interest to viewers in all three territories. It was also funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound & Vision II Funding Scheme. A co-production between Ireland’s Tile Films and Scotland’s Caledonia TV, it is being broadcast to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Bruce Invasion.
Producer Stephen Rooke said of the project: ‘This really is one of the untold stories of Irish and Scottish history. Not many people know that the Scots once invaded Ireland. And even fewer are aware that the last High King of Ireland was a Scotsman.’
‘After Braveheart’ will be broadcast on RTÉ One on 15th and 22nd January at 10.15pm. The series will be shown on BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland later this year.
