People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.This 2005 tour-de-force by director James McTeigue really resonated with me when I first saw it, and it resonates with me still today. Based on the 10-issue comic book series by Alan Moore, the film asks you the question: What would you do to stand up to tyranny? and What really *is* a terrorist?
The movie opens with Guy Fawkes. The name might sound vaguely familiar... vaguely. Every November 5th, the Brits shoot off fireworks and burn his effigy in celebration of his failure to blow up King James I and Parliament. He wasn't alone -- he had 12 co-cospirators -- but his is the name and identity that has become synonymous with Catholic extremism in the 17th century.
A calm, somber voiceover - Evey, our heroine - opens the movie with the first few lines of "Remember," a poem about Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot:
"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of no reason
why the Gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot."
Light slowly starts in a corner as Evey asks: "But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes, and I know in 1605, he attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament. But who was he, really? What was he like?" Barking dogs and we see Fawkes captured as Evey continues: "We are told to remember the idea and not the man... because man can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But 400 years later, an idea can still change the world."
Fawkes is brought before a crowd to be hung as Evey says: "I've witnessed firsthand the power of ideas. I've see people killed in the name of them and die defending them." A woman weeping over Fawkes's death as Evey says:
"But you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it or hold it. Ideas do not bleed. They do not feel pain. They do not love. And it is not an idea that I miss. It is a man, a man that made me remember the 5th of November, a man that I will never forget."
Self-righteous and a megalomaniac, Prothero broadcasts nightly. Off-screen cheers periodically erupt to applaud his vitriol. His most current rant is against the USA, or United Sphincter of Ass-erica, as he calls them:
Here was a country that had everything, absolutely everything and now, 20 years later, is what? The world's biggest leper colony.Why? Godlessness. Let me say that again. Godlessness. It wasn't the war they started. It wasn't the plague they created. It was Judgment. No one escapes their past. No one escapes Judgment. You think he's not up there? You think he's not watching over this country? How else can you explain it? He tested us, but we came through. We did what we had to do. Islington. Enfield. I was there. I saw it all. Immigrants, Muslims, homosexuals, terrorists. Disease ridden degenerates. They had to go. Strength through unity. Unity through faith. I am a God fearing Englishman, and I'm goddamn proud of it.
Evey's had enough and turns it off. She heads off to meet a man, even though it's after curfew, and ends up cornered in an alley by some slimey men. After fending off being molested with the threat of mace, they identify themselves as Fingermen, members of the government's secret police. Being untouchables, the sleazy group decides to rape her: "By sunup, if you're not the sorriest piece of ass in all of London, then you'll certainly be the sorest." They are interrupted, of course, by V. Quoting poetry, V quickly dispatches them with what looks to be super-human strength. He introduces himself:
V: I can assure you, I mean you no harm.From the very beginning, we see what kind of people the pair are: Evey has spunk but is trapped in her fear. V has no fear and chooses to be trapped behind his mask. Evey is at the mercy of the regime; V's holy quest is to destroy them. I immediately liked them both.
Evey: Who are you?
V: Who? "Who" is but the form following the function of what, and what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey: Well, I can see that.
V: Of course you can, I’m not questioning your powers of observation, I’m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Evey: Oh, right.
V: But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace soubriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. [He bows.] Voila! In view, humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the “vox populi” now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! [He slashes a 'Strength through Unity. Unity through faith.' poster, writing the letter 'V.'] The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. [chuckles] Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose. So let me simply add that it’s my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey: Are you like a crazy person?
V: I’m quite sure they will say so.
The High Chancellor meets with his cadre. He is a larger-than-life talking head of a video in a black room only lit by the screen and the symbol of the Norsefire regime. It's clear that they are carefully crafting what the truth is by detaining any significant witnesses and having experts testify that the Bailey was structurally unsound and was demolished on purpose. Prothero will repeat the propaganda on his show. The High Chancellor is demanding answers. "Gentlemen, this is a test. Moments such as these are matters of faith. To fail is to invite doubt into everything we believe, everything we have fought for. Doubt will plunge this country back into chaos, and I will not let that happen. Gentlemen, I want this terrorist found, and I want him to understand what terror really means. England prevails."
Throughout the film, V systematically hunts down the people who engineered Norsefire's rise in power; and, in a climatic battle, V slashes, stabs, and kills 16 men before strangling the man he ultimately holds responsible for his ruined life and the state of Britain. Plus, he blows up Parliament.
But none of this is gratuitous. Nor is it simply for the sake of action. All of it is a well-crafted lesson on the power of ideas and the necessity of fighting those who seek to rule through fear and intimidation. The performances of its leads -- Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman -- only enhance its message.
Hugo Weaving's performance as V was excellent. You never see his face and yet he portrays a world of emotion through *how* he says his lines. Initially V was played by James Purefoy, but he left 6 weeks into shooting. Any scenes where they still used Purefoy's footage were dubbed over by Weaving. (Had I not heard this tidbit, I would never have known it wasn't all Weaving.) While I like Purefoy, I don't think he would have been as successful aurally in his portrayal of V. Weaving's portrayal really brings across V's torment, his angst, his almost-insanity, his rage, his joy, his conviction. It's not just tone and pitch but cadence and raw emotion behind the words. Combined they make the unmoving mask he wears appear to emote, even though it never stops wearing that jester's smile.Natalie Portman's portrayal of Evey was also on-point. I didn't quite understand her timidity in the beginning of the film, despite seeming educated, liberated, and self-possessed. She's sarcastic when first meeting V, even though she's just almost been gang-raped. After they explain the death of her brother (a victim of the attack on St. Mary's), her parents (who protested the Norsefire government), and her 5 years of reprogramming (the Juvenile Reclamation Project), I got more of the picture and the truth of the film's overriding question drove home more. Portman does an excellent job of portraying one of the many in the country who live ruled by fear. And her transformation -- through V's torture -- into someone no longer afraid is quite believable. The woman at the end of the film is not the same woman at the beginning. While I might never understand Evey's almost Stockholm-like love that develops for V, I can understand why his effect on her life would be permanent: because she no longer lived in fear and that truly is a gift.
When I originally wrote this post, in December 2011, I spoke about why the movie resonated with me. As I revise it today, a little over 5 years later, it's message is all the more necessary. My answer rests in several things:
I. The Cost of Apathy
When V for Vendetta was released, it was less than 5 years from the attacks of September 11th. I had watched my homeland, in the guise of protecting its citizens, take measures that ultimately where eroding the liberties it was claiming to protect and those which had made me proud to call this my country. I had watched as its leaders told the world "just trust me" and "we have proof" as their excuses to enter a war brought about by fear. I had watched as anyone who objected be called "Un-American" and "unpatriotic." I had watched as the news networks no longer did their jobs; they didn't question but fell in line and churned out the propaganda they were fed. Only after the abuses at places like Abu Ghraib surfaced, did people start talking about the 'enemy combatants' that had been held without trial or representation since November 2001, people who, because they weren't called prisoners of war, weren't treated with the decencies provided by the Geneva Conventions.In some ways the government of George W. Bush was like the Norsefire group. They could enter your home without proving cause. They could detain you without providing you rights guaranteed under the Constitution. They could do it and you couldn't do a thing. It resonated with me then because even though Bush may no longer be in power, the way they do business still is mostly in place.
It resonates with me even more today, because the US's
Commander-in-Chief lives in the reality of the truth-of-the-day, which
conforms to his agenda and calls him savior. He issues wide-sweeping,
over-reaching edicts, based in Orientalism and benefiting Big Business.
He and his staff speak lies that they call 'alternate facts,' and
continue to attest that they are truth, even when they are proven false.
He lambastes and threatens the media when they call him on it and acts
like a petulant child whenever someone opposes his opinion.Also, in light of the powerlessness I now feel, it still makes me still question: Would I stand up and fight for freedom or would I be one of those people who simply watched and scoffed at another lie that showed up on the television?
As a freshman in college, I came across this quote by Martin Niemoeller (about the Holocaust):
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
We could substitute Muslims, immigrants, the media, intellectuals and the US is on the same path 70 years later. Conservative, political pundits would probably call my observations 'extreme,' 'irrational,' 'alarmist,' and 'over-reactive,' but a situation like the Holocaust, or the totalitarianism in the film, doesn't happen suddenly. It comes on gradually, as these things always do. It happens because good people sit by and do nothing. When I read that quote, I remember vowing to myself that I would speak out if anything like that ever happened. But if all I do is complain to the people around me about things that I see that are wrong, how am I any different than the people who just sat there and accepted the status quo? After seeing the propaganda news, Evey's co-worker says, "Do you believe that load of bollocks? I mean, there was no bloody demolition. I saw it, the whole thing." The people in the film complained amongst themselves about the lies they knew were obvious, but no one wanted to become a target of the dogs in power. What would I do in the face of tyranny? Would I sit by and be safe, or would I risk possibly everything to try and stop it?
II. The Power of Ideas
Throughout the movie V speaks of ideas and the power that they hold. When the government spreads its lies about the Old Bailey's destruction (that it was planned), V hijacks the broadcast and exposes them. Here's a YouTube link if you want to watch it.
Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize. I do, like many of you, appreciate
the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, whereby important events of the past -- usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful, bloody struggle -- are celebrated with a nice holiday. I thought we could mark this November the 5th -- a day that is, sadly, no longer remembered -- by taking time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.
There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. Even now, orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because, while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning; and, for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is... there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?
Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Certainly there are those who are more responsible than others. And they will be held accountable.
But again, truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty... you need only look into a mirror.
I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you. And in your panic, you turned to the now High Chancellor Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.
Last night, I sought to end that silence. Last night, I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than 400 years ago, a great citizen wished to imbed the 5th of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words. They are perspectives.
So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the 5th of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament. And together, we shall give them a 5th of November that shall never, ever be forgot.
For V, blowing up the Old Bailey and blowing up Parliament were more than physical acts. They were necessary to embed into Britain's consciousness the idea that they were the ones with the power, rather than being powerless. As much as Norsefire sought to control every aspect of their lives, to shape the truth with their propaganda, they wouldn't be able to control the most important thing of all: thought and hope. But why did he have to blow up two buildings? I think it was because the fear and powerlessness that people felt was so deeply entrenched that simply saying 'you can fight back' wasn't enough. Norsefire ruled because people felt like they had no hope. Such blatant violent rebellion -- that *wasn't* squelched or punished -- gave power to the idea that they could make a difference. And even though they originally had to hide behind Guy Fawkes masks of their own, in the end, the masks were gone and the people stood as one against a corrupt government.
III. Its Portrayal of Intolerance
After Evey runs away from V, she flees to the home of her old boss, Gordon Deitrich (Stephen Fry). Deitrich immediately agrees to hide her. Evey discovers that he's already secretly subversive: he has a secret room of outlawed materials - such as the Qur'an - that he keeps not because they epitomize his beliefs but because he appreciates their beauty. He admits to Evey that he is a closet homosexual and his dalliances with young ladies are nothing but a smokescreen and a ruse. His experience of V's rebellion (by-proxy through Evey), emboldens him. He understands and sympathizes with what V has been saying: that ideas have power and that the current tyranny of government strips the soul. As a result, he chooses to air a Benny Hill-like skit on his comedy show that makes fun of Sutler and the government, an act which leads to his brutal arrest (which we see) and subsequent death.
Evey is captured and imprisoned. They begin to torture her for information about V. Her only solace is a letter she finds hidden in the wall of her cell. It's written by a woman, an actress named Valerie, whose only crime was her sexual orientation. The letter is moving in its grace: I was born in Nottingham in 1985. I don’t remember much of those early years. But I do remember the rain. My grandmother owned a farm in Tottle Brook, and she used to tell me that God was in the rain.
I passed my 11 Plus and went to a girls' grammar. It was at school that I met my first girlfriend. Her name was Sarah. It was her wrists – they were beautiful. I thought we would love each other forever. I remember our teacher telling us that it was an adolescent phase that people outgrew. Sarah did. I didn’t.
In 2002, I fell in love with a girl named Christina. That year, I came out to my parents. I couldn’t have done it without Chris holding my hand. My father wouldn’t look at me. He told me to go and never come back. My mother said nothing. I’d only told them the truth. Was that so selfish? Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. And within that inch, we are free.I’d always known what I’d wanted to do with my life, and in 2015 I starred in my first film: The Salt Flats. It was the most important role of my life. Not because of my career, but because that was how I met Ruth. The first time we kissed, I knew I never wanted to kiss any other lips but hers again.
We moved to a small flat in London together. She grew Scarlet Carsons for me in our window box. And our place always smelt of roses. Those were the best years of my life. But America’s war grew worse and worse, and eventually came to London. After that there were no roses anymore. Not for anyone.
I remember how the meaning of words began to change. How unfamiliar words like “collateral” and “rendition” became frightening, while things like "Norsefire" and the "Articles of Allegiance" became powerful. I remember how "different" became dangerous. I still don’t understand it: why they hate us so much.They took Ruth while she was out buying food. I’ve never cried so hard in my life. It wasn’t long until they came for me. It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place. But for three years I had roses – and apologized to no one.
I shall die here. Every inch of me shall perish. Every inch. But one. An inch. It is small and it is fragile, and it is the only thing in the world worth having. We must never lose it or give it away. We must never let them take it from us. I hope that - whoever you are - you escape this place. I hope that the world turns, and that things get better. But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you: I love you. With all my heart. I love you. - Valerie.
This was a beautiful person whose only crime was who she chose to love. She didn't even hate the people who hated her and were murdering her. She was full of grace, mercy and kindness -- those very qualities that Christians are supposed to emulate -- and yet it was the so-called-Christians who did so much more evil things. It causes my skin to crawl the kind of intolerance that people like that display and how they wrap up their hatred in the mask of Christian righteousness.
It resonates with me because this was a *beautiful* person, whose only crime was her sexual orientation, and that was deemed enough to get her killed. She didn't even hate the people who hated her, who were murdering her. The people who passed judgment and carried out her sentence were so much worse, did so much more evil things, and she was condemned just because of who she chose to love.Whenever I see this scene, it always makes me sad because of how people hate and feel justified because the Bible objects to the lifestyle. (They overlook the fact that the Bible talks a lot more about -- and more vehemently condemns -- their hearts than it ever even touches on this particular subject. Jesus -- the guy they're saying they're imitating when they call themselves Christians -- never treated people the way they do. He called out the hypocrites and preached loving others, even your enemies. He was always loving towards everyone, especially those self-righteous, religious people. Jesus ate with pagans and tax collectors, people that the 'righteous' Jews wouldn't go near. The way that these 'Christians' talk about homosexuals is the way Jesus's contemporaries talked about the pagans and the tax collectors.
I don't agree with V's tactics -- his violence probably murdered people who were just doing their jobs, or who were innocent bystanders caught in the wrong place -- but from V's perspective we're all complicit in the situation and thus all culpable. There's an element of truth in that. But the punishment doesn't fit the crime, particularly because almost everyone you saw die was not in on the crime. They may have been part of the machine but they were in the thrawl of the lie just like everyone else. While I am bothered by this injustice, it still doesn't detract from the righteousness that seems to reside in what V did.
Evey: You really think blowing up Parliament's going to make this country a better place?
V: There's no certainty, only opportunity.
Evey: I think you can be pretty certain that if anyone does show up, Creedy'll black-bag every one of them.
V: People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
Evey: And you are gonna make that happen by blowing up a building?
V: The building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people, blowing up a building can change the world.
My sentiments are shared with the people in the film who donned the Guy Fawkes masks and came to Parliament to watch it explode on the following Fifth of November. (You can watch this scene here.) The 1812 Overture plays. Explosions abound, including the legendary Big Ben. (That was a little painful.) As they watch, the people begin to remove their masks, revealing people of all ages, races, faces of V's audience that we've seen throughout the film, even the faces of the dead. The implication is that power is now back in the hands of the people, rather than the men they allowed to steal it.I guess why the film most resonated with me was because I just want to help people and do the right thing. Saving people from exploitation appeals to me. Being that brave resonates with me. The people in power did what they wanted, with no fear of retribution, because people stood by and did nothing. V saved people from that because he gave them back the power they had all along.
A month into the new year, I think my resolution is going to be: to be braver than I was last year, to speak up more and louder, and to not cow to the retribution I fear might be coming.
Cue music.
My Rating: 9/10
Links
Official movie site from Warner Bros.
Movie Script
Historical discussion of Niemoller's quote by Harold Marcusea professor of German history at the University of California, Santa Barbara
New York Times article explaining Alan Moore's The Vendetta Behind 'V for Vendetta'
A comparison between the movie and the comic from IMG.com
Wikipedia entry for the comic book series
Wikipedia entry for the film
Some interesting blog thoughts
Tech Freedom discussion of the Surveillance State
An Annotation of Literary, Historic, and Artistic References in the graphic novel
Hyperlink.com: Major Themes and Symbols in “V for Vendetta” by Chris Muise
Scholarly article: V for Vendetta and Political Philosophy: A Critique of Thomas Hobbes
Philosophy of "V for Vendetta" by Lasanthi Fernando
Philosophy Now discussion of totalitarianism and resistance
Wizzley article: Bulletproof Ideas: The Importance of V for Vendetta
Scribd.com: V for Vendetta Cultural Influences
Miriadic wiki article which provides a lot of insight into the development of the film
V for Vendetta Shrine
Reviews
Rolling Stone review: "The explosive V for Vendetta is powered by ideas that are not computer-generated. It's something rare in Teflon Hollywood: a movie that sticks with you."
The Nerdist article: V for Vendetta is the Perfect Story for Our Current Political Climate
The Pinocchio Theory review: "In any case, V for Vendetta pulls no punches: it doesn’t draw back from its more dangerous initial implications in the ways that high-budget adaptations of comics so often do."
Film Trade International review and discussion
A review by someone who missed the point that V was making.
The Agony Booth review: "V for Vendetta plays on a lot on today’s political issues. It dangles the possibility of an extreme group taking over and placing anyone of certain ethnicities, religions, sexual orientation, and immigrant status into concentration camps which, thanks to the current presidential election cycle, doesn’t seem that farfetched at the moment."
From a blog that "tells you whether or not their movies are as super as they are." I don't quite agree with his ratings, since he gave Thor only 2 stars and RED and Sherlock Holmes 2½ stars, while giving Kick Ass and Batman Returns 3 stars. Batman Returns. 3 stars.
This guy thought the movie was pretentious. "And that really is the core problem with V for Vendetta: it presupposes destruction can be meaningful and inspiring like a work of art, even more so, that it is a work of art. And that is one of the most pretentious things I’ve ever heard. Forget all those snooty art-house films, if you like this film you are way more pretentious than I could ever aspire to be." I've never been called pretentious before. And I hate art-house films.
Moviefone review which takes contention with the adaptation process and bemoans the loss in translation.
Hero Go Home.com annoyed by "a cartoon liberal battling stereotypes and strawmen," and "the logic of the typical Hollywood liberal"
More Reviews
DVD Reviews
Guy Fawkes
The Telegraph article on Guy Fawkes Day
The Mirror article on Guy Fawkes Day
BBC article on Guy Fawkes
Website dedicated to Guy Fawkes
Wikipedia entry on Guy Fawkes
No comments:
Post a Comment