Give a brief plot overview.
The piece is set in future London, which still grieves at the lost of 80,000 to a viral ‘terrorist attack’. The antihero, who goes by ‘V’, is on a quest to bring down the overruling party as a vendetta for the injustice he faced in the Lark-hill Centre. The party and its leader follow in similar footsteps to that of the Nazi party and the dehumanisation of the diverse of the population gives grounds for the uprising and revolution which V desires.
Discuss the setting of the text and how it could be influential to the genre.
Set in London, the future dystopian London gives the viewer a point of reference to the present and the possibility of what our world could become. A familiar setting provides insight into the lifestyle these citizens would suffer and creates a deeper connection to the message the director intends to display. Surveillance is evident and everywhere has been industrialized, no nature and minimal trees/greenery.
Uncover a character that was of interest and why.
All the character keep up a facade in order to survive.
Evey is an interesting aspect of the movie due to the symbolism of change she represents. She herself, undergoes a drastic change from that of an undermined, controlled citizen to a critical part of a revolution against the corrupt government. It is not only the change undergone by her character, but it is also the change that is created by this process. Evey fuels the rebellion through her newfound fearless nature and executes the remodel of society. Although the rebellion would not have existed in the manner it did without ‘V’, Evey influences change upon V as we see his fight for freedom begin to merge with his fight for love.
Outline one Cinematography technique that stood out… Why?
The intensive use of Lighting stood out as it conveyed the overbearing and utter control utilised by the government. The common associations of darkness and ‘dark times’ allude to the emotional wellbeing of the population and the total control of the government. The transition of dark to light scenes as the movie progresses also displays the realignment of power and control.
What Message would you take from this text? Uncover how you experienced this.
I would like to take the message of hope and belief in the human race. As a genre the inclinations of war, suffering and control leave a rather foul taste in the viewers mouth. It is refreshing to view a piece which continues to believe and encourage people of a society which have themselves created this dystopian setting. In similar pieces it is uncommon to see an ‘Hollywood’ style perfect ending yet the poetic finish further enforced my need and want to believe in our race and hope that our generation can learn from artistic predictions such as these.
Compare this to ‘HMT’, ‘Children of Men’, and ‘Minority Report’ – what similarities exist between these texts?
Today’s feedback:
– Reflect on Evey’s purpose. Why was she used in this way by the director?
– Also consider why London for the setting and develop more depth here. Remember, the setting in dystopian literature is a crucial element.