Feeling feart? Walt disnae

Columnist

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Developments on the independence referendum publicity front.

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Tom Shields on …

The No campaign has signed up the PR for Strathclyde polis. Eck and the people who say Yes have the Disney Corporation on their side.

The Pixar animated movie Brave is on release and VisitScotland has jumped on the bandwagon to attract tourists to the misty and mysterious Highlands. There may also be a political windfall for the independence campaign.

The storyline of Brave involves a feisty Scottish princess fighting for freedom of choice instead of being forced into an arranged betrothal. In one movie trailer the heroine says, against an image of glorious loch and glen scenery and an evocative Gaelic song: "If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?" Meanwhile, the caption on the screen reads: "The bravest journeys are never taken alone."Such publicity the SNP could not have bought even if that Largs EuroMillions couple had given Eck their entire £167 million winnings. It is feart says No against feelgood says Yes.The Unionist camp may dismiss the movie as Brave without the heart. They will be able to mock the Pixar depiction of Scotland as a land of bows and arrows and bears (fierce wildlife variety, not fierce Ibrox). Another trailer asks: "What makes a man feel like a man? Is it tossing logs? Is it fighting bears? Or is it freedom, the freedom a man feels when he's wearing a small plaid skirt?" Cue fat Scotsman bending over and saying: "Feast yer eyes" as he lifts the kilt to reveal a bahookey which is thankfully out of shot. Another parody has a Scotsman stick the heid on the camera. More than a hint of the Jimmy wig.On the plus side for the Yes campaign, there is Billy Connolly as the lovable King Fergus of DunBroch, who is all in favour of his daughter Princess Merida's quest for self-determination. There is a horse called Angus and cute brats called Harris and Hamish. Not to mention an authentic Scottish soundtrack with haunting strings, throbbing bodhrans, and, apparently, few bagpipes.Brave the movie is in the Brothers Grimm tradition with many dark and scary moments. Just like the thought of Scotland going on its own, the No campaigners might say. And, anyway, it depicts a fairytale Scotland. Cue Alex Salmond singing fairytales can come true.

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