The year is 2020, the United States stands at the brink of a second civil war and a mysterious virus is ravaging Europe. Under the guise of controlling the pandemic and quelling domestic terrorism western nations designate themselves police states, ushering in a totalitarian era. This straight from the headlines scenario is the premise for the 2005 political action thriller V for Vendetta. Through its exploration of modern tyranny the film aptly predicts the all too real crises of 2020 and warns against the dark path that the events of this past year have set us upon.
The story begins with a masked vigilante known only as V rescuing state television employee Evey from the secret police. After she witnesses his attack upon the Criminal Court of England and Wales he takes her to his hideaway where he demands that she remain for one year. While pretending to aid in another of his attacks she escapes to the home of her colleague, Gordon, and is stunned to learn that he shares V's anti-government views and secretly engages in subversive activities. After learning of Evey's experiences with V, Gordon becomes determined to take a stand and satirizes the government on his television program. The broadcast inspires viewers, but ultimately leads to a police raid on Gordon's home during which Evey is arrested. After suffering numerous tortures she is ultimately released and emerges stronger, wiser, and determined to aid V in his crusade at any cost.
Over the course of the past year the world has found itself at a dangerous juncture. Much like the film's infamous 'St. Mary's Virus' the Covid-19 virus has become a global pandemic in the months since it was first reported in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The ways in which the virus is used as a pretext for the blatant violation of citizens' civil liberties in the film eerily mirrors the devastating impact of draconian lockdowns that have been imposed by governments across the globe. While numerous studies indicate that lockdown orders and mask mandates have failed to slow the spread of the virus, governments around the world have reimplemented and increased the severity of these same orders and mandates in recent weeks. Rather than fulfilling their supposed goal of saving lives, these measures have instead shattered lives by devastating citizens' economic, educational, mental, and physical well-being. Even as celebrities continue to echo that 'we're all in this together' citizens are encouraged to mirror the characters in the film by shaming and even acting as informants against one another all in the name of 'public safety'.
One of the most chilling aspects of the film is the way in which information warfare is used to oppress the population. Throughout the film, state media promotes the narrative that the St. Mary's Virus was released by a terrorist organization, while in reality the virus was actually released from a state lab as part of an experiment in biological warfare. In this way, state media ensures that citizens will continue to trust the very government that poisoned them, all while remaining suspicious of each other. In a striking similarity the mainstream media and big tech platforms including Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter have come under fire for censoring or manipulating facts to form deceptive and often harmful narratives. State efforts to enforce lockdown measures created an ideal opportunity for these entities to justify their continued censorship efforts under the guise of 'preventing the spread of misinformation' related to the pandemic. Much like in the film these measures actually served to spread false information, particularly propaganda surrounding the responses of the WHO and Chinese Communist Party's responses to the virus.
Throughout the film those who dare to voice dissenting opinions are designated as terrorists. This act of manipulation serves the dual purpose of justifying the government's creation of a police state and ensuring that citizens remain in a perpetual state of government dependence and fear. Over the course of several months American and European cities descended into violent protests, the majority of which the mainstream media and big tech platforms by turns ignored, condoned, or actively encouraged in the name of 'social justice'. In the wake of the violent protest in Washington D.C. last week, however, these same entities have made an abrupt shift in their coverage policies by not merely condemning the violence, (as any legitimate outlet should do) but also extending their condemnation to any who hold conservative views, regardless of whether they were even present at the capitol. In keeping with this media narrative big tech platforms have begun a mass censorship campaign in which private citizens' social media accounts are surveilled and censored and free speech platforms are removed from the internet. In a chilling development the media has now begun to follow the film's example by designating those who dare question the accepted narrative regarding the 2020 election or the pandemic as potential terror threats. Much like in the wake of 9/11 this media narrative has given rise to a public demand for mass surveillance in a second incarnation of the Patriot Act. In a matter of mere months V for Vendetta's fictional dystopia has gone from cinema fantasy to a rapidly approaching reality.
The film is brought to explosive life thanks to the work of its cast. Stephen Rea infuses his performance as honest cop Inspector Finch with an ideal balance between world weariness and decency. John Hurt portrays High Chancellor Adam Sutler with a cruelty and calculation that rivals history's most notorious dictators. Stephen Frey portrays Gordon with warmth and charm and aptly depicts Gordon's inner conflict as he produces propaganda for a regime that he secretly despises. Natalie Portman turns in one of the most multi-faceted, nuanced, and believable performances of her career as Evey. Even as he remains hidden behind his mask Hugo Weaving dominates the film in his magnetic turn as the mysterious V.
Released in 2005 as a futuristic thriller V for Vendetta predicted the crises of 2020 with unnerving accuracy and offers a dire warning for the future as we enter 2021. Through its intelligent script and engrossing performances the film relates a tale of tyranny and liberation that raises vital questions surrounding politics, media, and the cost of freedom. As we stand at the brink of an era of censorship, suppression, and surveillance V for Vendetta proves to be vital viewing. Join the revolution with Evey and V in V for Vendetta...if the censors still let you.
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