V for Vendetta - discussion guide

Summary

‘Remember, remember the Fifth of November. The gunpowder, treason and plot. I know of no reason why gunpowder and 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 recognise 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 realises that V is committing the murders reported on the news, she manages to escape. She runs to the home of her friend Gordon (Stephen Fry), a popular chat show host, who takes her in and reveals his own hidden cache of art and books. But 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 for a long time - 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, 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. Originally actor James Purefoy was cast in the role of V but left partway through filming for unknown reasons. The Wachowski brothers then recast the role with Hugo Weaving with whom they worked during The Matrix trilogy.

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.’

For more information on V for Vendetta, see the official site

Questions for discussion

1. What were your first impressions of Evey? Why? How has what happened to her parents affected her worldview? How does it motivate her to assist V?

2. How do your opinions of the character of V change throughout the film? What is the effect of V always being behind a mask and never showing his face?

3. What different meanings of V's name did you get from the film?

4. Why do you think Guy Fawkes is featured at the beginning of the film? What connections are there between Fawkes and V?

5. Why do you think so many rules have been imposed on society? Is this a positive or negative thing? How has it changed society?

6. How are Christians portrayed in the film, particularly through the character of the Bishop? Is this suggesting something about Christians in the real world? If so, what? Why?

7. 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?

8. What is it about Valerie's story that inspires Evey so much? How has Valerie's story inspired V?

9. What does V for Vendetta say about revenge and forgiveness? How do the views shown by V compare with the biblical view of forgiving the people who have hurt you (e.g. Matthew 5: 38-42)?

10. What do you think the roses symbolise? How do the meanings of the roses change as the film progresses?

11. Why do you think that the characters who have been killed on screen appear amongst the crowds at the end? What effect is achieved by doing this?

12. How have V's actions affected the state of society? What do you think might happen after the film's conclusion?

13. In what ways can V be seen as a hero? Why? How can he be seen as a villain? Why do you think his character is left somewhat ambiguous?

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