V For Vendetta (film)

## Background

*V for Vendetta* is a 2006 US film directed by James McTeigue using a screenplay written by the Wachowski Brothers. It is adapted from a british comics series of the same name by Alan Moore first published episodically in 1985 in the pages of Quality Communication's "Warrior" comics and later finished as a stand alone mini-series published by DC comics.

The movie centers on the action of "V", an anonymous anarchist terrorist trying to bring down the Norsefire Party, a fascistic totalitarian party ruling Great Britain in the near future.

## Norsefire

Norsefire is the totalitarian party ruling Great Britain. It is presented as xenophobic and homophobic. The supreme leader is High Chancellor Sutler. It is unclear (at least in the movie) whether the monarchy still exists or not. While their is no mention of a king or queen, the rank insignias worn by the army general near the end of the movie contains a crown which might imply the existence of a monarch. It should be pointed however that In our own world, Fiji is a republic but has continued to use british-style insignias which include crowns.

The party uses a number of flags but it's unclear what, if anything, each one of them represent. The flag solely with a black background and a red double cross is the most commonly seen one.

### Uniforms

Unlike some other fictional and real world totalitarian parties, most members of the Norsefire Party do not appear to wear distinctive dress elements in everyday life at the time the movie takes place. In flashback scenes however, uniformed paramilitary members of the Norsefire Party can be seen parading.

Politicians such as High Chancellor Sutler wear civilian clothes with a party pin on their lapel (red double cross on a black rectangle)

#### Police

Policemen wear a uniform composed of

* a black or dark blue peak cap with a shield shaped silver badge containing the word "POLICE" at the top over a number of rays going toward the outside of the shield. a black or dark blue bulletproof vest
* a black or dark blue windbreaker or sweater underneath with shoulder flaps going over the vest. The flaps have slides with a silver "P" over a series of numbers (different for each policeman)
* a white or pale blue shirt
* a black or dark blue tie
* a black or dark blue pair of pants

#### Fingermen

Unlike the Police, the fingermen appear to dedicate their attention only to crimes related to the party's hold on the population such as curfew breaking and behavior deemed disloyal. Fingermen dress in civilian clothes but carry a wallet badge in the shape of the party emblem (red double cross on a black rectangle).

#### Troops (flashbacks)

During flashback scenes dating back to Norsefire's rise to power, troops can be seen parading fully armed during a Norsefire rally. Their uniform is composed of:

* a black beret with the party emblem
* a red shirt with a black strip of cloth going under the rise-and-fall collar
* a double breasted black leather jacket held close with a black sam-brown belt. On the upper right arm is a black cloth armband on which is the party emblem in inverted colours (black double cross on a red rectangle).
* black pants
* black motorcycle boots

#### Commander Prothero (flashbacks)

As commander of Larkhill, Prothero is shown in flashbaks wearing a variant of the flashback militiamen with the leather jacket being replaced by a double breasted business suit and a red & black tie instead of the strip of cloth. Unlike the buttons of other militiamen which appear to be plain silver, the ones on his uniform are enameled black with a red double cross. He also has a metallic pin on each of his lapel although no description of them are as yet available.

#### Troops (contemporary)

Near the end of the movie, a scene takes place in modern days during which troops can be seen defending parliament. Rather then the uniform seen during flashbacks,these wear urban camouflage shirts and pants and black utility vests. Headgear is either an urban camo helmet and black half mask or a black beret with the party logo. The one exception is a general seen wearing a red beret instead.

#### Unknown Norsefire agents

A brief flashback scene takes place during a night raid on a couple's home. The people conducting the raid are shown wearing black tactical gear, gloves and a balaclava with the only distinctive feature being a red double cross on the upper arm. No context is given so it is unclear if these are fingermen, militiamen or some other branch of norsefire.

High Chancellor SutlerPolicemanFingermen's badgemilitiamen (flashbacks)Commander Prothero (flashbacks)Modern Troops
### Rank Insignias

    No rank insignias are obvious on the uniforms worn during flashbacks. Commander Prothero is seen wearing metallic pins on his lapels although it is unclear if these are rank insingias or some other type of decoration.

In the present days, army officers are seen wearing real world golden metallic British army insignias on their lapels.