![]() Of course, it’s far from the only London location to feature in the 2006 film which is largely set in the city – among other locations are Trafalgar Square where the protestors gather before marching down Whitehall, and the Old Bailey which explodes in the first scene as well as the former Underground station of Aldwych – located on a former spur line of Piccadilly Line which closed to the public in 1994. However, even more critical is V’s reminder that the enigmatic leaders who captivate minds as they shout from their political pulpits are often nothing more than power-hungry beasts who seek to shape the world in their image.The site of the climatic showdown in V for Vendetta between the silent hoards of masked protestors and the military, Parliament Square is featured in some dramatic aerial shots before, moments after midnight in the early hours of 5th November, the Houses of Parliament explode to the sprightly sounds of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. In a world where people freely give away their rights due to fear, ignorance and complacency both carry an importance. V for Vendetta offers us two different messages the first is one of hope in the ability of people to overcome a diet of fascism and nationalism through a single spark of freedom, but the second is a warning that one person’s spark of rebellion is another’s dynamite. Here, the film warns that past mistakes are easily repeated when people are fed on a diet of ideologically shaped fear and blame. Meanwhile, the disintegration of democracy is reflected through the letter he keeps close, one which echoes the experiences of those who lived under the slow rise of nazism in Europe during the early 1930s. Here the spirit of Guy Fawkes is reborn in a man who understands the modern need for media, slogans and symbols to sway public belief. While at the same time, V provides us with a symbol of the need for us all to speak truth to power at any cost. The final picture is an ode to the power of the individual in shaping the future by embracing the rights of democracy and free speech. ![]() But, its bravery in the landscape of 2006 movies is to be commended after all, how many blockbusters have a lead character as enigmatic and curious as V? And how many dare to explore the interface between acts of violence and political freedom? Here V for Vendetta earned its place in cinematic history long after its original release, as its imagined dystopian future slowly became more of a reality in a world of growing inequality and far-right beliefs. Of course, that’s not to say V for Vendetta does not have its weaknesses for example, its conversations on terrorism are often muddy and unclear, while its dystopian mood is lost slightly towards the end. Here V for Vendetta explores political manipulation based on ideology, a trait we have become more than familiar with over the past ten years with the rise of Trump and the fear-induced vote for Brexit. However, despite this, James McTeigue’s movie has become a cult classic that has inspired countless filmmakers with its themes of darkness and light, freedom and control. Much of the critical backlash came from the film’s divergence from its comic book origins, with many critics concerned that V for Vendetta tried too hard to earn its Hollywood stripes. ![]() What do movies do, after all, if not spin fictions intended to manipulate our emotions?”. ![]() Peter Bradshaw proclaimed it to be “ Valueless gibberish,” while Christopher Orr of The Atlantic pronounced, “Whether or not one believes that governments manufacture crises and invent enemies in this way, there’s one group clearly guilty of the accusation: Hollywood filmmakers. The critical response to V for Vendetta in 2006 is fascinating, with many high-profile critics of the day less than favourable of its worth. However, thankfully their vision of England is not yet our reality, but that does not mean the ideas housed in V for Vendetta are mere fantasy. In many ways, James McTeigue’s adaptation of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s comic book series feels spookily reflective of our modern world, its themes of political coercion, control and crumbling democracy reflecting our deepest fears in 2020. This is London in 2028, but it may also sound uncomfortably close to home. Let me take you to a world where divisive leaders rule, a recent pandemic instils fear, and public trust is placed in the hands of right-wing zealots.
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