V for Vendetta (film)

V for Vendetta (film)
Name	V for Vendetta
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	James McTeigue
Producer	Joel Silver, Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writer	Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Based on	V for Vendetta, Alan Moore, David Lloyd
Starring	Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith
Music	Dario Marianelli
Cinematography	Adrian Biddle
Editing	Martin Walsh
Studio	Silver Pictures, Virtual Studios, Anarchos Productions
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures
Released	2005, 12, 11, Old Vic, 2006, 03, 17, United States
Runtime	132 minutes
Country	United States, United Kingdom, Germany
Language	English
Budget	$54 million
Gross	$132.5 million

V for Vendetta (film) is a 2005 dystopian political thriller directed by James McTeigue in his feature debut, from a screenplay by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. Based on the 1982–1989 DC Comics limited series V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the film is set in a futuristic, totalitarian United Kingdom and follows a mysterious anarchist known only as "V" and his protégée, Evey Hammond. The film explores themes of fascism, anarchism, and personal liberation against a backdrop of government oppression and societal control.

Plot

In a near-future London under the rule of the fascist Norsefire party, a young woman named Evey Hammond is rescued from secret police by a masked vigilante known only as V, who wears the likeness of Guy Fawkes. V, a survivor of a government-run concentration camp, is executing an elaborate, year-long plan to destroy the corrupt state apparatus led by High Chancellor Adam Sutler. He destroys the Old Bailey and later Thames House, while broadcasting messages urging the public to rise against the government on the following Fifth of November. Evey is captured and tortured by the regime, an experience that ultimately liberates her from fear. As V’s plan culminates, he facilitates a mass uprising where citizens, inspired by his ideals and wearing identical masks, march on Parliament. V is mortally wounded in a final confrontation with Creedy, the head of the secret police, but his legacy lives on as Evey carries out his final act of destroying the Palace of Westminster.

Cast

* Hugo Weaving as V, a charismatic and philosophically driven anarchist and freedom fighter. * Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond, a young woman who becomes V's unlikely ally and protégée. * Stephen Rea as Eric Finch, the chief inspector of the Metropolitan Police Service investigating V. * Stephen Fry as Gordon Deitrich, a popular television host who secretly opposes the regime. * John Hurt as High Chancellor Adam Sutler, the tyrannical leader of the Norsefire government. * Tim Pigott-Smith as Peter Creedy, the ruthless head of the secret police, the "Fingermen". * Rupert Graves as Dominic Stone, Inspector Finch's loyal detective. * Roger Allam as Lewis Prothero, a propagandist and "Voice of London" for the regime. * Ben Miles as Dascomb, a high-ranking official within the Norsefire party. * Sinéad Cusack as Delia Surridge, a doctor with a dark connection to V's past. * Natasha Wightman as Valerie Page, a former inmate at the Larkhill detention center whose story is told through a letter.

Production

Development began at Warner Bros. Pictures in the 1990s, with the Wachowskis attached to direct. Following the success of The Matrix, they chose to write the screenplay and produce, handing directing duties to their longtime first assistant director, James McTeigue. Principal photography took place primarily at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, Germany, and in London over a six-month period beginning in March 2005. The production design by Owen Paterson created a bleak, controlled version of London, heavily influenced by Art Deco and 1930s Nazi Germany aesthetics. Hugo Weaving performed the role of V entirely behind the iconic Guy Fawkes mask, relying solely on his voice and physicality. The film's score was composed by Dario Marianelli.

Themes and analysis

The film is a dense exploration of political philosophy, primarily contrasting totalitarianism with anarchism. V’s actions and rhetoric are steeped in ideas from thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Paine, promoting revolution against tyranny. The narrative critically examines the use of fear as a tool for state control, a concept mirrored in the real-world politics following the September 11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror. The symbol of the Guy Fawkes mask is transformed from one of treason into a universal icon of anonymous rebellion and populist dissent. Furthermore, the film delves into the nature of identity, the power of ideas over individuals, and the personal cost of liberation, as seen in Evey’s brutal yet transformative imprisonment.

Release and reception

V for Vendetta premiered at the Old Vic theatre in London on December 11, 2005, and was released wide by Warner Bros. in March 2006. The film grossed over $132 million worldwide against a $54 million budget. Critical reception was mixed; some praised its provocative themes, Natalie Portman's performance, and visual style, while others criticized its perceived heavy-handedness or narrative inconsistencies. Original graphic novel creator Alan Moore publicly disavowed the film, removing his name from the project. The film was nominated for several awards, including a Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.

Legacy

The film's cultural impact has grown substantially since its release, particularly through the adoption of the stylized Guy Fawkes mask by the hacktivist group Anonymous and various global protest movements, including Occupy Wall Street. It is frequently cited in political discourse concerning government surveillance, civil liberties, and resistance. The final sequence, set to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, with the destruction of Parliament, has become an iconic cinematic image of revolution. The film is now widely regarded as a cult classic and a significant work of political cinema in the 21st century, with its mantra of "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people" entering the popular lexicon.

Category:2005 films Category:American films Category:English-language films