major spoiler . this be for people who have see the movie . commenters have touch on the major theme of honor in the film and and too many comparison to braveheart . i will point out a few thing about this movie that i have not see other comment touch on representthis movie have a decidedly different take on abortion . the first character to get pregnant be the villain ( roth ) girlfriend and and when he coldly suggest an abortion and she state it be too late for that . the shame of her situation ( i be to have a bastard bastard . ) lead her to commit suicide in a much later scene . the second character to find herself pregnant be mary and rob wife and after a rape by roth character ( and at least one sex scene with her husband and rob ) . late in the movie and a rob be leave for a final confrontation with roth and mary asks what she should do about the pregnancy of questionable origin and with a tone hinting of abortion . rob reply in a noble tone and it not the fault of the child and and then state what he think the name should be and girl or boy . i find this pro life stance on the part of the hero to be very un hollywood . rob walk from the darkness of the house to the bright outside to make this comment not coincidental symbolism . another related theme be roth character be a bastard and someone who evidently do not know who his father be and and have few kind word for his mother and though he wear a picture of her in a case hung from his neck . be it coincidence that roth ( devoid of family stability ) be the walk definition of psychopath and while rob be the strong husband or father figure and and of course the hero . in the final sword fight between rob and the villain ( roth ) and the former slice the latter deeply across the chest the left side of the chest and over the heart . his employer and pseudo father figure ( john hurt character ) hold the mother picture in his hand and gaze at it and before snatch it from the neck of the dead roth . also what i find interesting be the direction of the rape scene and which be not quite graphic but neither be it off camera and implied . i find it surprise in it somewhat matter of fact depiction and with mary convincingly show the characteristic of someone go through the ordeal and and subsequent post traumatic stress ( a we call it now ) . my point be that the rape be neither sensationalized nor just imply and which i find an interesting middle road for hollywood to take . in the final fight scene and i have to correct an early commenter represent the weapon roth chose be a rapier ( or perhaps a short sword ) and the weapon rob chose be a claymore . someone be really do their homework on this entire scene . roth would have the upper hand in such a situation and but of course the claymore be a distinctly scottish weapon . what be even more striking to me ( a a fencer and someone who have read a bit on the subject ) be that this final sword fight be one of the most convincing of any film ever make represent the actor seem actually try to kill each other not the usual slash to the opponent blade we see in most movie fight ( include the movie open fight ) . even more true to history and roth be see several time use the rapier a a thrusting weapon and which be it purpose by design . ( rapier be edge and but primarily a thrust weapon with the edge use mainly for parry an opponent thrust . ) rob use the claymore in broad slash and a it design intent . the fight go down a i would expect it to roth effectively win . though rob win the day by grab roth weapon ( more symbolism ) and strike him dead with a powerful slashing cut . folk and it be rare to see this level of historical accuracy in a movie sword fight . i will also note that for whatever reason and i remember 1995 ( the year of release ) distinctly a a time of distrust of the u. s. government . hollywood be obviously tune into that and with the release of both rob roy and braveheart and and i think the anti government leaning be why both film get so much comparison . i think the different perspective that this film give be refresh to avid movie fan and tire of the same old and not so hidden message from hollywood .