Title: V for VendettaYear: 2006
Synopsis: It's the future, and Britain is now ruled by a dictator. In this totalitarian state, who will stand up against the injustice and brutality that roams the streets? Curfews, murder, illegal human testing and bending the news is on the agenda of the high chancellor Adam Sutler, but who's side are you on? A vigilante known only as the letter V stands up to fight with Evey as his unlikely ally using terrorist tactics and the collective mind of the public to remind us what freedom is.
It has been a good few years since I saw this film, and I recall being quite tired the last time. This doesn't bode well for V since you have to pay close attention to follow the story line.
It is past curfew, and Evey (Natalie Portman) is out after hours. In the dark she accidentally bumps into a few thugs employed to keep the streets clear of civilians after curfew. Convinced she is to fall victim to their crude intentions Evey closes her eyes and waits for her attacker to land the first blow...it never comes.
Evey is rescued by the enigmatic, well read and burnt to a crisp V. His introduction in the film is probably enough to put the majority of viewers off, but heck what an alliteration! I didn't know so many words began with the letter V. The film is full of lots of symbolism that is fun to look out for after the first viewing (you're concentrating too hard on following the storyline to be looking out for anything). V leads Evey to a nearby building where he conducts his latest 'concert'. Blowing up a well known Landmark puts Even right in the eye of danger and V takes it upon himself to protect her after he takes over the TV station where she works. Broadcasting to the entire nation, V plants the seeds of rebellion into a public force-fed on government propaganda.
As Evey slowly uncovers the truth about V's history she also learns the truth about her own past. Believing all along that her mother had starved to death during a hunger strike and her father and fallen during the war, it becomes clear to Evey that the government was to blame. Even so, she's still afraid and after witnessing her protector committing acts of murder she runs to her friend Deitrich's house (Stephen Fry). It turns out, like V that he too enjoys collecting memorabilia from before.
Getting Deitrich and Evey arrested was all part of V's grand plan but due to a copy of the Qu'ran Evey gets to relive her past as she watches the secret police bursting in and beating Deitrich to a pulp. During her escape attempt, she too is grabbed and thrown into a cell, questioned daily about V and his whereabouts.
After what must feel like a lifetime for Evey, she finds a letter that gives her inspiration to stop living in fear. And it is here that we find out her captor was V all along! Needless to say she is not very happy and after a long fight promises to see V one last time before his final act of defiance. She keeps her promise and returns on the night, entering the underground station that is just a small part of V's vast empire of found items and recovered items from the ministry. The train is packed with explosives and is waiting on a track that will take it straight to the houses of Parliament.
Will it get there? Will the masses, now subjected to V's cause stand up against the regime they've been subjected to? What will happen to V, and Evey?
Yes I know I ordinarily give a full review but V for Vendetta is actually one of my all time favourites and I urge anyone who hasn't already seen it to watch it for themselves. Tease? Yes, but it will be worth it I promise!
A heart-jerking, symbolism-packed, gritty action film that truly sticks it to the man! 10/10!
Until next time, film fans.
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