V for Vendetta is a dystopian film set in a totalitarian future Britain. It follows V, a masked vigilante anarchist who seeks to overthrow the fascist government through acts of violence and terrorism. V takes in Evey, a young woman who works for the state media, and exposes her to his ideas of revolution. The film explores themes of political oppression, censorship, and whether violent resistance can ever be justified against an unjust system.

1. V for Vendetta
Directed by James
McTeigue

3. "Beneath this mask there
is more than flesh...
Beneath this mask there
is an idea, Mr. Creedy,
and ideas are
bulletproof."

4. Overview
V for Vendetta deals with issues of race,
sexuality, religion, totalitarianism, and terrorism.
Its controversial story line and themes have,
inevitably, made it the target of both criticism and
praise from sociopolitical groups.
It shows us a dystopian world where political
power is above individual freedoms and people
are oppressed in the name of unity.

5. ‘People should not be afraid of their
governments. Governments should be afraid
of their people.’
V is a man who wears
a mask, he is an
enigma. His mission is
to overthrow an unjust
society, by any means
possible.
Evey is a young girl
who is frightened – she
should be.

6. Main characters- Evey
Evey is a young girl
whose parents were
imprisoned
She fears standing out
She is ambitious
She wants to be an
actress
She has few friends
She works for BTN

7. Main characters - V
V is the man in the
mask
He alliterates
everything with V
He is passionate about
art, literature and
music
Pop culture and high
culture
He believes in freedom

8. Main characters- Chancellor
Sutler
High Chancellor of
England
Gained power in a
coup
Dirty politics behind his
rise
Linked to Three Waters
and St Mary’s deaths
Has large secret
service and control of
everything

9. Main characters – Mr
Creedy
Head of secret police
called ‘fingermen’
Ambitious and ruthless
Known for his black
bags
“ a man seemingly
without a conscience,
for whom the end
always justifies the
means” - V

10. Chief Inspector of Norsefire – the party that rules
England
Asked by chancellor Sutler to track down V
Fair but pragmatic
Lonely
Begins to uncover unpalatable truths
Believes in justice

11. Gordon Deitrich
Evey’s boss
Older man
Clever, but lonely
Invites young girls to his house regularly – not
because he wants to because he has to

12. Key Themes
Power and control
Political freedom
Free speech vs censorship
Art and literature’s power to lift the human spirit
Totalitarianism
Justice and revenge

14. There are numerous references to the number 5 and
letter V, which itself represents "5" in Roman
numerals:
* The story begins on the 5th of November
* The title of each chapter begins with the letter V.
* The character V is seen reading and quoting from
Thomas Pynchon's novel, V.
* Beethoven's fifth symphony is used by V and noted
for the prominent use of three short notes and one long,
which is the Morse Code identifier for the letter V (the
BBC used this code as a call sign during World War II,
most famously in the sense of "V for Victory").
* The series identifies V as the prisoner from Room V
at Larkhill Internment Camp.

15. * The access to V's hideout goes from the closed
Victoria tube station, the damaged sign of which
resembles a sideways V when Finch locates it.
* V's personal motto consists of the Latin phrase Vi
Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici (By the power of truth, I,
while living, have conquered the universe) - five
words that begin with the letter "v". V identifies the
origin of the phrase as Faust.
* Guy Fawkes Night happens on 5 November.
* The government consists of five branches,
associated with the five senses.
* At Larkhill, V is injected with Batch "5".
* V's last word, at the end of the series, starts with
a V.
* Much of V's dialogue uses iambic pentameters
(verse with five stressed syllables per line).

16. How is the world shown in the film similar/different than the one we know
today?
“People should not be afraid of their Governments. Governments should be
afraid of their people.”
Is violent social change EVER justified?
“All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”
-Edmund Burke.
QUESTIONS AND QUOTES TO CONSIDER:

17. Throughout history there have been many instances when people opposed
oppressive governments. What examples can you think of that are
noteworthy?
Some of these resistance movements were non-violent and others involved
violence. V said that violence can be used for good in the context of justice. Do
you agree?
“Those who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin.
“Terrorism is the best political weapon, for nothing drives people harder than the
fear of sudden death. What luck for rulers that men do not think.”
-Adolf Hitler.
“If you’re looking for the guilty, you need only to look into a mirror”
-V.