V for Vendetta essay.

Briony Costanza.

Thesis-V for vendetta has a variety of themes and messages. It is a dystopian film as throughout it presents warnings and messages. The film shows a fascist government who manipulate the country with “fear and panic”. The film was released after the terror attacks, which occurred in London and America (9/11), it created conspiracies of whether these attacks had any connection to the government as in V for Vendetta the government, are actually the terrorists. The film made the audience question whether they could trust their government. V for Vendetta presents the importance of freedom, and suggests the message that it is more important than life. The film not only gives warnings of the future but also comparisons of the past and present world, examples of this is Nazi Germany and how Hitler’s power allowed the country to become a fascist dictatorship. The film also is similar to the events in Guantanamo bay and the unjust acts that are occurring to the people imprisoned there.

Main body-

Theme-Manipulation

Scene-Scene 1 (Voice of London), and the scene of V preaching on the emergency channel

Analysis-The closeup of Lewis Prothero at the beginning shows his importance, this also suggests that the public and therefore believe and value his statements.

Synthesis- Should we believe everything we are told by the media?

Theme-Fear

Scene-Eveys time in prison “People should not fear their governments, the government should fear its people”

Analysis-The fear in the film is shown by the obedience of the citizens. They are taught to think that they should be obedient to the government and not to question them, as if they do they are likely to be punished. The fingermen (secret police).

Synthesis-Have we been taught to work for the upper class? Are we still living in a country with the ‘social ladder’ and is it followed?

Theme-Identity

Scene-V cooking for Evey, The crowd of people in V masks

Analysis-No one has their own identity in the film. Gordon and Valerie are examples of peoples sexuality having to be hidden or taken away. Eveys femininity is taken away by the mock prison camp and we do not know the identity of V as he has no recollection of his life before the detention centre. The mask creates a neutral gender for everyone so they hide theirs and V’s. By wearing the masks they also conforming to the governments want of not allowing people to be different.

Synthesis-Do we conform to the societies ‘norm’?

Theme-Terrorism

Scene-V blowing up the cathedral, the revealing of the governments virus plan

Analysis- Comparison to Guy Fawkes, Rokewood was mentioned and during the gun powder trial he was of said to “love Catesby above any wordly man” suggesting he could’ve been gay and fighting for his freedom. The government killing its own people, unable to trust anyone.

Synthesis-Can we trust our own government? Makes us question 9/11 and London bombings?

Theme-Revolution

Scene-Crowd of V masks

Analysis-Shows that everyone together can make a difference. A symbol of everyone united.

Synthesis-By being united we can make a stand and get freedom. Revenge or silent protest?

Conclusion- The film shows different themes to put across a message that freedom is more important than life, this is true as without our freedom including speech and actions, we are unable to live with our own lives as we choose.