V for Vendetta (Spoilers)

Rating: 9/10 (17 March 2006)

V for Vendetta is the first fun, clever and entertaining political film that I have seen since The Crying Game and The Battle of Algiers. I thought that Hugo Weaving (V) and Natalie Portman (Eve Hammond) gave excellent performances. V is a man on a mission: revenge for the terrible actions of his government against him and enlightenment for the citizens of his world. He takes action and from his actions come the beginning of the "revolution". V understands that he must teach his fellow citizens--he teaches through the destruction of symbols: justice has been abandoned in a theocratic-fascist England, and so he destroys the Old Bailey. He encourages their small steps: symbolic actions (the small child spraying a graffiti V, etc.) and anonymous action (the Guy Fawkes outfits for everyone in London). All the while, he carries out his personal acts of revenge. As for Eve, he teaches her through kindness and ruthlessness--he drives away all her fear. He makes her a rebel. The film highlights two acts of rebellion, quiet, but costly, that cost two people their lives--one, Gordon, gets swept up in the "V mindset" and forgets about the Fingerman, and commits a revolutionary act (humor as revolution) -- he also wears a mask, he passes as "straight" but is a gay man in the frightening world of the Christian fundamentalism; even more important, his courage reminds Evey of her parents, their sacrifice, and now his sacrifice. And finally, Eve draws comfort and courage from the autobiography of a young lesbian, once again, who keeps her integrity . . . Evey finds her own courage and integrity . . . She is willing to die anonymously, in order to preserve V and the "revolution". An altogether lovely film.