“People should not be afraid of their government, governments should be afraid of their people”

The idea of people should not be  afraid of their government is very evident in film V for Vendetta directed by James Mcteigue. Set in a futuristic London where a corrupt totalitarian government has complete power.  A terrorist who wears a Guy Fawkes mask known only as V uses a series of terrorist attacks to ignite a revolution and bring down the regime. V is able to get people’s attention with an idea and lets the people of London know that their  government is destructible and the people hold more power than they think. The state instils fear into individuals for discipline and control this ironic situation is pointed out by v who says “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people’’

 V is able to gather the support of citizens that are becoming more and more dissatisfied  realising how much control their government has over them. Through two significant emotive  scenes during the film the domino and fight scene are able to witness the rise rebellion of the people against the government.  Cinematography techniques are used extensively throughout these scenes. Mcteigue uses the cinematic techniques of sound and symbolism in both the domino scene and the fight scene to show how people shouldn’t be afraid of their governments. Sound encompasses non-diegetic sound, diegetic and dialogue and through symbolism the colour red, V’s mask and the symbols of V that are woven throughout the two scenes.  

Soundtrack and symbolism are used throughout the domino scene where  V’s plan starts to come together and V pushes over dominoes to create a large black and red letter V.   Sound and symbolism work together harmoniously when the dominoes fall. The ominous background music reaches a high tempo as V’s glove tips over the first domino as this is occurring we see the vibrant red of the dominoes. Red allows us to see the strength and power the people have over their government.  The red symbolize the revolution V is creating. This shows that something big is about to happen and shows the increasing amount of rebellion among people. 

As the dominoes fall we see flashback to the real life Brixton riots. The viewer response to this is a feeling of shock as we do not expect to see real footage of riots.  As the dominoes fall we hear the sound of batons clashing against one another. The director has intentionally done this for when the dominoes fall. This works with symbolism a after tipping one domino V has set off a chain reaction. The symbolism of the dominoes falling and the sound effects of the dominoes work together to show that the government is falling and the people are rebelling. This relates to the directors intention because it we realise that  governments are made up of people that are destructible and that there is no reason for society to be afraid of them. Mcteigue shows how fear can rob people of their power and hand it over to the political powers in control.All the citizens are afraid and content to live their lives under the conditions so that they avoid the consequences of the law. Once the things become out of hand thanks to V , they are able to rise up and reclaim their power as people not as subjects of the high chancellor. The dominoes falling  shows the entierty of V’s plan and the effect he has on people. V through his actions is showing people that they should not be afraid of their government. During the domino scene we see mail trucks delivering boxes to people’s doors as they are delivered we hear menacing ominous music in the background. When a box is opened by Eric Finch we see V’s mask. The boxes are shaped similar to the shape of V’s. We learn that over several hundred thousand of them have been delivered all over the country. V’s mask is an important and powerful symbol in the film. By wearing a mask V becomes more than a man with an idea. He becomes the idea.  An important power of the mask is its anonymity as anybody can wear the mask and take on the spirit of rebellion. The the menacing ominous music and V’s mask work together to show that something big is soon too occur and the power of the mask not only to V but to the people of London. Mcteigue shows us here that is up to the people how much power the government has over them. The delivery of masks is a challenge to the people of London. V is challenging them to stand against their government. To not be afraid.

In the fight scene sound and symbolism are also used.  As Sutler completes his speech he says to the nation ‘’tonight we must remain steadfast, we must remain determined, but most of all we must remain united.’’  As this is occurs we see flashes of people’s homes and public places all of which are empty as Sutler blares out his message to the public. This is not only ironic but symbolic as all of the people have gone to converge on parliament. They had the courage to stand united against  the government. V has inspired them to join the rebellion and have no fear. Mcteigue shows the power of individual freedom when it is brought together by all individuals through their success in infiltrating and taking down the government. Ominous music builds before Sutler is killed this works together with symbolism when V places a scarlet Carson rose on Sutler’s chest. As V gives Sutler his Scarlet Carson rose he states “For all the things you have done all the things you might have done’’ V’s roses are are symbols of death and brutality. V kills his enemies and then places scarlet carson roses on their dead bodies. V puts the roses on each of his victims in memory of Valerie a fellow inmate at Larkhill who grew the roses. The totalitarian Norse Fire government destroyed Valerie’s happiness and ‘’took away her roses’’ because her choices were not of the  Norse Fire parties accepted behaviour. These techniques work together to show the directors intention because it is the final moments of the high Chancellors life. Sutler the dictator of the entire regime is going to be killed. He is the government. The main man behind the installment of fear and brutality. V had no fear of the government and was brave to go against it. Sutler was his main target and finally he has achieved killing him. By killing Sutler and rising against the government V shows the importance of refusing to subject to totalitarianism and treatment he has undergone. When V begins fighting Creedy and the guards the soundtrack sounds like a beating drum, this works together with the symbolism as V draws his knives in V shapes. As V lets go of his swords we here the sound of swishing swords this overlaps the upbeat courageous music of the beating drum. Each sword  spins 5 times before hitting its victim. As V walks towards Creedy we see him through a chamber hole in Creedy’s gun.This positions to the viewer to feels though they are really there. Creedy fires the gun 5 times as this occurs the drumbeat music pans out and we hear quieter ominous music as Creedy realises his fate. As V staggers against the wall after killing Creedy his blood makes a V shape on the wall. Symbolism and soundtrack work harmoniously together to represent not only Vs beating heart but the beating heart of all of those who are rebelling against the government. This is V’s final battle and represents his success of rebellion against the government. It is now up to the people he has inspired to to rise up and reclaim their power as people. V was a man with an idea who became the idea. Mcteigue shows us that once a person frees themselves of their fear they can take control. 

The idea of people should not be  afraid of their government is very evident in film V for Vendetta directed by James Mcteigue. Set in a futuristic London where a corrupt totalitarian government has complete power.  Through two significant emotive scenes during the film the domino and fight scene are able to witness the rise rebellion of the people against the government. Mcteigue uses the cinematic techniques of sound and symbolism in both the domino scene and the fight scene . Sound encompasses non-diegetic sound, diegetic and dialogue and through symbolism the colour red, V’s mask and the symbols of V that are woven throughout the two scenes.  V the man with an idea who became the idea inspires the people to to rise up and reclaim their power as people instead of objects not to be controlled by the subject of the high chancellor, Sutler. Once the people lose their fear they are able to take control. V’s inspires us and the people of London to realise “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people’’.