I watched parts of this movie on television - it was always shown at times when I could not sit down and watch it all, so I bought it on DVD. The DVD is German but with an English language option, and seems to be the only available source.
Historically, it's well written - NOT, as some other reviewers have claimed, the poor old Scots versus the evil English, but a Polish / Italian Prince who, after years of peace, lands in Scotland and bribes, coerces and threatens the Scots Lords into war on his behalf. With no army, weapons, strategy or planning, and no real idea of what Scotland actually is, he chases a dream, doomed to failure from the start, and only succeeds in destroying the Scots way of life before he flees back overseas. Lord against Lord, family against family and friend against friend, the war was Scot against Scot and neither would win.
As for the film itself... watch it on a very small screen. Large screen television only helps magnify the out of focus shots, the grainy texture and the poor production. Too many long shots of chewing deer, flowing rivers and mountains; many of the outdoor shots, in rain and fog, are harshly lit by production lighting which reflects off the wet weapons.
I like it - I find it historically accurate, the costumes are accurate, and the sentiment is more realistic than many. Were all the anti-Jacobite Scots traitors, or were they just realists? No-one wins here, and that's a refreshing and very brave portrayal. It's just a pity the production wasn't better.. but I'd say: watch it with an open mind.
