The Development of Personal Identity – Film Review
Film title: V for Vendetta
Director: James McTeigue
Screenplay: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski adapted from the graphic novel by Alan
Moore and David Lloyd
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry, Stephen Rea, John Hurt
Cinema Release Date: 17 March 2006
How do the following characters react to or feel about the:
Think about the Vocabulary words that you could use to describe what they do and what they say.
Retrieval Chart
The Government
The Police
People in Society
Violence
V
Evey
Deitrich
The Creation of Personal Identity – Film Study
V for Vendetta
‘Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why
gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.’
In Britain in 2020, the country has been changed and shaped by disaster. It has survived a deadly virus
which killed many thousands of people. During the ensuing hysteria and fear, a totalitarian government
has come into power led by High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) who imposes strict rules for safety.
One night after curfew, a young woman named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) is rescued from the
secret police by a mysterious, shadowy figure called V (Hugo Weaving). A highly-skilled, knife-wielding
martial artist, the eccentric V quotes Shakespeare and wears a Guy Fawkes mask. When the Old Bailey
law courts blow up, Evey watches with V – and her life changes forever.
The next day, the police come after Evey, having identified her from close-circuit television pictures.
Meanwhile, V broadcasts an inspiring message, telling the population to recognize the Government’s
actions and urging the people to join him in a year’s time when he will blow up the Houses of Parliament.
When Evey helps V escape, he takes her back to his underground home in order to keep her safe from the
authorities.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) is trying to find and arrest V. Finch makes connections
between V’s victims and finds they were all associated with a former detention facility called Larkhill.
Through the bare information he has, Finch begins piecing together who V was and is. But Finch’s
superiors, particularly Adam Sutler, do not want the past delved into and make it clear to Finch that he
has to stop looking into Larkhill.
Evey discovers that V’s home, which he calls the Shadow Gallery, is full of art and books which he has
stolen from the censors. V tells her she must stay with him for a year as the limited information she has
about him and where he lives is enough to lead the authorities to him. After Evey realizes that V is
committing the murders reported on the news, she manages to escape. She runs to the home of her friend
Gordon Dietrich (Stephen Fry), a popular talk show host, who takes her in and reveals his own hidden
cache of art and books. Soon Gordon is captured by the secret police and Evey is caught when trying to
escape. She endures torture and humiliation but refuses to admit anything about V. But just who is it
torturing her? By the time Evey finds out, she is part of plans that have been set in motion a long time
before - and soon a year will have passed since V’s message was transmitted.
Background
V for Vendetta began life as a comic book series created by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. Alan Moore is
one of Britain’s leading comic book writers and is best known for bringing more mature themes to the
comic book medium. His most famous works include The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Swamp Thing,
From Hell and Watchmen. Moore has distanced himself from all of the film adaptations of his work and
was particularly angry when producer Joel Silver claimed that Moore had talked to screenwriter Larry
Wachowski and was very excited about what Larry had to say. However, co-creater of V for Vendetta,
David Lloyd, supports the film adaptation.
Larry and Andy Wachowski, who adapted Moore and Lloyd’s comic book work into a script, are best
known for being the writers and directors of The Matrix trilogy (1999, 2003). They claim that they like to
challenge people’s expectations and want audiences to have to work when they watch their films.
Director James McTeigue has worked as an assistant director for a number of films including The Matrix
trilogy and the Star Wars prequel trilogy. V for Vendetta is his directorial debut.
V for Vendetta has received mixed reviews. Ross Anthony in Hollywood Report Card writes ‘This is a bold
movie with a strong story and script and absolutely outstanding direction.’ William Arnold in the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer says ‘For anyone looking for something totally different in this most overworked of
Hollywood genres (comic-book superheroes), this is it.’
Questions for discussion
1.
How has what happened to her parents affected Evey’s worldview? How does it motivate her to
assist V?
2. V for Vendetta explores the idea that one person's terrorist may be another person's freedom
fighter. What do you think of this statement? Explain how this could be true? Use any current
knowledge you have of events in the world.
3. What different meanings of V's name did you get from the film? How does his many “names”
show his personal views of his world?
4. After researching the gunpowder plot, why does V model himself after Guy Fawkes and his
ideals?
5. Explain how the ideas of the individual clash with the collective norms in this film. Discuss either
Evey or Dietrich for this question.
6. List ten specific characteristics or techniques of the society in the film that demonstrates how the
ideology of the government is maintained. (eg. Restrictions of rights, force and terror)
7. Why does V believe: “People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be
afraid of their people.” and what is he willing to do to help “the people?”
8. Were you shocked when it was revealed that V was behind Evey's torture? How did it change
your opinion of V's character? How does the torture change Evey?
9. What is it about Valerie's story that inspires Evey so much? How has Valerie's story inspired V?
10. How have V's actions affected the state of society? What do you think might happen after the
film's conclusion?
11. When discussing the film’s main theme, Israeli-born Natalie Portman said "We all realize that at a
certain point, violence might be the only means of effectively combating injustice, but it's always
going to be subjective — what injustice is great enough to provoke you to harm someone else?"
How would you answer this question?
12. If you had to choose, would you choose life or liberty? Explain.