Brave

2012 Animated Film

Starring Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson
Directed by Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman and Steve Purcell

Plot: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Click here to read our review of Brave

Originally titled, The Bear and the Bow, Brave is set in 10th century Scotland. For Disney’s Pixar studios this film is different from their usual animated features, in that it focuses on a female lead character, Merida, is set as a historical/fairy tale film, and is considered more mature than their usual stories.

The film-makers and actors set out to give the movie a Scottish flavour, with many of the scenes set in the picturesque Highlands, complete with medieval castles and forests. In a recent interview, Kelly Macdonald, who gives the voice to Merida, says, “They really captured the essence and I think the humor of the Scottish people. We sort of put our two bits in, as well, the actors, because we would have dialogue that would be a bit Americanized. … Even if the words aren’t understood, you get the gist of everything. And the male characters, they really captured that certain ego and bluster and kind of puffed-up-ness to them.”

Scotland’s tourism sector is hoping that the film will lead to a big influx of visitors. VisitScotland is creating a £7m advertising campaign in the 72 countries which will be airing the film this summer, which it hopes will increase tourism in Scotland by £140m a year. Click here to see VisitScotland’s Brave website.