Movie Review: V for Vendetta

 

Remember, remember the 5th of November...

The opening scene of V for Vendetta gives us a lesson in English history.  In the 17th Century, a gentleman named Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament, an act of sabotage that caused his execution in front of a mob of thousands.  The film then fast forwards to London in the not too distant future.  A totalitarian regime has seized control of Great Britain and the United States is in a state of chaos caused by a civil war.

We are introduced to an individual who goes by the letter V.  As the story is told, we learn that V will use any means necessary to incite the will of the people to rebel, while gradually killing off individuals from his dark and mysterious past.  He stands for an overthrow of the government by carrying out Fawkes‘ failed mission.  V’s true identity is never revealed as he wears a Fawkes mask covering his entire face.     

Natalie Portman gives an excellent performance as Evey, an orphan whose parents were detained for political activism.  She works for the state-run British Television Network.  Initially, V rescues her from an attempted rape by members of secret police, and takes her to his safe house on the evening of the the 5th of November, a day the people of Britain will always remember.  Throughout the film, V sheds light on the truth behind the deaths of her parents, and she is conflicted between her nonviolent tendencies and the evil evident in her government.   

There’s plenty of kung fu, violence, and gunfire, but the most striking aspect of V for Vendetta is the dark, resonant, politically-charged idea it conveys.  Fear can be used to give a person or organization too much power as is the case in V for Vendetta.  V’s goal is to awaken and empower the people, but his methods are morally questionable.  Regarding the England’s oppressive regime, he said, “If you want to see who is responsible, look no further than the mirror.  I understand, you were afraid...People should not be afraid of their governments.  Governments should be afraid of their people.”  This film is purposefully designed to make you uncomfortable and make you question the moral correctness of V’s actions.  Even the Chancellor’s actions aren’t as black and white as they might appear--he believes his actions are necessary for a safe society, however evil they are.  Does the end ever justify the means? 

How does V for Vendetta apply to current affairs?  You can see individuals among the Occupy Wall Street protests wearing the Guy Fawkes mask adorned by V.  Whether these protesters understand the violent historical roots and profundity of the mask is entirely up for debate.  Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up a government building, yet his image has been romanticized over the past 400 years.  It is essentially equivalent to donning a Timothy McVeigh mask.  From my own observations, I’ve concluded that Occupy protesters have a much more peaceful message than Fawkes.

Further adding to the irony of the protests, Warner Brothers holds licensing rights for the Guy Fawkes mask.  Therefore, when anti-corporation protesters purchasing official versions of the masks are actually enriching the target of their demonstration.  However, several protesters have stated they are using illegally-made copies to circumvent Warner Brothers.