What 1995 historical drama about William Wallace won Best Picture?

What 1995 historical drama about William Wallace won Best Picture? Braveheart did.

Directed by and starring Mel Gibson, Braveheart dramatizes the 13th-century Scottish revolt against King Edward I of England. Gibson plays William Wallace, a Scottish nobleman who becomes a military leader after English oppression and personal tragedy. The film was released in 1995 and became a major international hit.

At the 68th Academy Awards, Braveheart won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Gibson, Cinematography, Makeup, and Sound Effects Editing. Its Best Picture victory placed it among a relatively small group of historical epics to receive the Academy’s top prize.

The movie is celebrated for its sweeping battle scenes and emotional storytelling, but it is not a reliable biography. Historians have pointed out anachronisms and major liberties involving Wallace’s relationships, costumes, political events, and the famous blue face paint. The title refers to Wallace’s posthumous reputation and to the film’s theme of Scottish resistance.