Cinema: V for Vendetta

"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people"

The film "V For Vendetta" is a United Kingdom-Germany co-production, set in London, is directed by James Mcteigue. It is starring Natalie Portman - as "Evey" - (Closer, Garden State) and Hugo Weaving as "V", featuring other excellent actors like Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and John Hurt. But V for Vendetta was originally a comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated mostly by David Lloyd, published between 1982 and 1985, in black and white, in Warrior, a British anthology comic.

The film is set against a futuristic landscape in a totalitarian Britain, some years from now. V for Vendetta tells the story of a nice young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked man (Hugo Weaving) known only as “V.” “V” uses terrorist tactics to fight against totalitarianism and oppression, urging Britain’s citizens to rise up and stand up for freedom and justice and start a revolution, while pursuing at the same time his own personal revenge. When Evey uncovers the truth about V’s mysterious background, she also discovers a new herself and becomes his ally in the execution of his masterplan. The film is a mix somewhere between Zorro (of which it shows an excerpt) and Matrix, it is a modern post-9/11 Orwell, criticising the never-ending war on terrorism (and its scapegoating, its use of fear, the use of racism and xenophobia). The idea of an antifascist terrorist-as-hero is certainly controversial and will provoque debate, since, as someone wrote “one man’s terrorist is another's freedom fighter."

The film is graphically very well designed, visually beautiful and superbly acted. It actually makes you think while watching explosions and street fights. The film is highly enjoyable despite its over-ambition (aiming to be a political allegory, a love story and a thriller all in one) and although the story feels somehow flat and the characters remain a bit shallow. Natalie Portman also contributes highly to recommend this movie, confirming her special talent. And let’s admit it, the fall of the US and watching the Houses of Parliament blowing up are also very enticing.

And I say, governments should not control thir people, people should control their governments.