It’s 2020. London. The streets are reminiscent of nazi Germany. Loudspeakers on every building blaring: “Code yellow curfew in effect!” Everyone must be off the streets or risk incarceration. Evey breaks curfew by a couple minutes and finds herself in the hands of 3 policemen who want to have their way with her. Enter the masked man “V” who saves Evey from rape and takes her to the top of a building to watch him conduct his symphony: the blowing up of The Old Bailey to the tune of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as played through the city’s speaker system.
Britain is ruled by Sutler, a fascist dictator who strips his people of freedom in exchange for safety. The Koran is outlawed and homosexuals are captured like murderers and imprisoned for life. All civil rights are ripped away. When Sutler finds out that the 1812 Overture was played during the blowing up of The Old Bailey he screams: “I never want that song to be heard again! Add it to the list!” Apparently Sutler likes to control what music people listen to. Its not hard to believe, he already controls what news they receive (however skewed) and what television shows they can watch. The citizens of Britain live silent and fearful lives, afraid of what may happen to them if they mis-step or speak out for change. They are very much a dehumanized people, though they do find hope in V.
V for Vendetta is not your typical shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up fanfare. It is intelligent and thoughtful and wildly entertaining as well. As I was thinking back to the movie yesterday, I realized that there isn’t a singular allegory that you can grasp and say that it applies, but rather a plethora of metonyms that can speak to many different situations and people. While watching the film I couldn’t help but liken Sutler and his dictatorship to that of the modern organization of church. I know that may seem harsh, and that the metaphor isn’t perfect, but my story and experiences align with it.
Sutler decides what is wrong and bad for his people. Homosexuals are evil, other religions aren’t tolerated, curfews are in effect, certain “bad” music is outlawed, political orientation is shut down, freedom of speaking your mind is snuffed out, and the list goes on. All of this is done in the name of “protection” and “safety”. This is not unlike the modern organization of church. They have “lists” of their own in which we probably would see scribed many of the same things that were outlawed by Sutler. The MOC has told me what music is evil, what political party I should support, what movies are bad, which types of people I should condemn and be afraid of, and has taught me that I am not allowed to have a voice or opinion of my own. The MOC does all of this for the protection and safety of its people. They think that by limiting the choices of their people that they are helping them become good Christians, when in fact they are sheltering them from things that God never intended us to be sheltered from.
I wont get into my thoughts on the almost Christ-like character of V who begins to liberate a people from the injustice of the law that has held them captive for so long. But I will say that people begin to have hope that someone can save them. And in the end it is a film not about one man, but about a people who stand up against injustice. The individual cannot accomplish an ounce of what a group of people in solidarity can. What is important to grasp in this film is that the idea is more important that the person. A person can die, but an idea will live on and change things forever.
“Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof.”
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I’ve heard people from diverse backgrounds saying that this film can be a commentary on the state of affairs in their country, whether it be China, North Korea or the USA. I had to admit that I had my doubts that a movie addressing the perils of fascism, in a post 9/11 era, could be made without further polarizing the liberal and conservative segments of our society. Well, this movie succeeds because its agenda seemingly is not political but rather a humanistic one. I think we can all agree that a life without freedom, whatever that freedom means to you, is not worth living and within everyone of us lies a Codename: V - willing to employ extreme measures to reclaim our freedom. I favor means that involve a little less gun powder but still extreme in the eyes of many. Thank you eccentric, transgender Wachowski brother for this beautiful tale of the triumph of the human spirit - far too good to be a movie of the week.
MB
Amen! I was browsing some forums on V for Vendetta yesterday and found it insane that people were saying that the movie was horrible because it supported terrorism. The film isnt supporting terrorism at all, but rather using it as a metaphor for freedom. I agree with you Mario that this is a movie about people. And yes, it is brilliant, fun, thought provoking and amazing. I loved it and can’t wait to hear what others thought as they watched the film.
Ryan,
Really you would be a great critic writer. You thoughts and the writing style in which you descride the movie is just really really well done. You should submit your reveiws to magazines and see about getting them published.
Read the Declaration of Independence again. It is a superb justification for violence against an authoritarain government. Surely V for Vendetta is just a metaphor for the American Revolution?