Introduction
Throughout the film V for Vendetta, there are many messages that are portrayed through the use of many different themes. The main themes that come to mind when we discuss the film of V for Vendetta are; Religion, a Totalitarian government that controls it's people, oppression, revolution and vengeance. All of the above themes incorporate the messages and beliefs of the film, for example, the theme of revolution and vengeance conveys to the audience to stand up against a Totalitarian, controlling and oppressive government, to use your own voice rather than being oppressed by the control of the government.
Religion
The theme of religion is conveyed throughout many different aspects of the film. One of which is during the scene with the Bishop and Evie. The Bishop, a symbol of the Church and religion as a whole, is a known pedophile. This is fed and covered up by the government. Incorporating the idea of a corrupt government. Therefore the message of not trusting your corrupt government is portrayed through the theme of religion. The fact that V stops anything from proceeding with the Bishop and Evie portrays to the audience that within this society it is still obviously view as wrong, even though it is hidden by the government.
As we understand from previous aspects of the film, the government is corruptly religious; we can see this through the modified symbol of the cross that the government use as their logo. The fact that the Bishop is a pedophile and this is hidden by the corrupt government conveys a message of the film; that the public should not trust their government due to their fear.
When we, the audience first meet Chancellor Sutler, he is projected on a largely dominating screen, where several of his men sit below, watching him demand. The projection of Sutler is central within the shot and takes up the majority of the screen, when the men speak to him, a high angle shot is used to portray Sutler's heirarchy. However, it is also possible that the director wanted to incorporate a subtle hint at the theme of religion. As Sutler is central, taking up the majority of the shot and looking down upon the men, he could be seen as a God like figure. We also see if a flashback scene that he is worshiped on also like a God. As Sutler is the man in power he has been presented as a God-like figure, who uses his power like a corrupt relgion, oppressing and discriminating those who go against what he prescieves to be societies norms.
Oppression
This brings me onto the next theme that is presented in V for Vendetta. This is the theme of oppression, which conveys the message of the film; warning you that if you do not use your voice as revolt, this could happen to you. From the very beginning of the film, we see Prothero speaking via the media in both Evie and V's rooms. Not only does his convey the importance and control that the media has over the people, but he also states 'homosexuals' and 'Muslims' as 'Godlessness'. This links to my previous point about the corruption of religion and the depth of oppression. This segregation and discrimination between groups is similar to what has happened during history before, for example Nazi Germany, this subtly conveys to the audience that this depth of oppression is actually possible.
We later understand why V wants revenge against the current government. We see that he, as well as Valerie and many other "outcasts" we're put into concentration camps for testing, these people were put into these camps due to their sexuality and/or religion. This links greatly to Nazi Germany, again conveying that this can and has happened and could happen to you. It therefore incorporates an element of realism into the films message.
We also see the oppression inflicted on by the government within the beginning of the film. We are shown speakers which explain that there is a curfew, and that all members of the public must be indoors now. This portrays that people have lost their freedom of speech and free will. This curfew and control is not portrayed as a positive, 'watching over the people', but instead conveys the negativity of the dystopian government, once again portraying to the audience that the government could happen, and we all must use our voice for this not to occur.
It is not just homosexuals and people from different religious views that are oppressed, but also women. We experience this within the beginning of the film; Evie breaks the curfew and is almost raped by the two corrupt police officers. This portrays how women are deemed as weak and vulnerable in this extremist society. The film does however, turn this idea around as it is Evie who actually bombs Parliment; destroying the symbol of the government; her oppression due to her gender results in her revolting against the system, like V. This portrays the message of the film, that we must take to the streets in order to over throw the controlling government and society that we live in.
Revolution and terrorism
Another theme that is represented in the film is revolution, however this is embedded with the concept of terrorism. Revolution is one of the major themes in the film. We understand that V wants to overthrow the government due to the oppression that he, himself experienced first hand. (V was a victim of testing in a concentration camp due to going against societies norms.) However, the film begins and ends with an explosion of the Old Bailey, and Parliament at the end. One therefore must consider if V is causing a revolution for the good, and debate whether this could be classed as an act of terrorism. This therefore brings us towards another message of the film; that 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.' V destroys the Old Bailey at the beginning, this symbolises justice; however within this state there clearly is not equal amounts of justice, hence the concentration camps, and when Provoro speaks via the media in the first scene; describing 'homosexuals' and 'muslims' as 'Godlessness'. Therefore when V destroys the Old Bailey, he too is destroying this corrupt symbol of justice.
At the end of the film, the people take to the streets, symbolising the theme of revolution greatly. Each of these people are masked like V, this could symbolise that each of them hold the same belief and that revolution is an idea. This is a key scene to convey one of the messages of the film, that we must not suffer in silence and be resistant to the oppression and control of a Totalitarian government, but we should take to the streets to cause a revolution in order to change society. At this point of the film, all of the average civillian's have become vigilantes, this is what V signified throughout the film.
V also dies before the bombing of the Houses of Parliament before this he explains that freedom is more important than death, explaining that he is willing to die for freedom. This highlights another key message of the film. The revolution that V causes results in other people's freedom, whether it be free will or freedom of speech.
Totalitarian state and oppression
From the beginning of the film, the audience understands that it is set in a Totalitarian state, and oppression is used to control civilians. We can see this throughout the first scene whether both V and Evie are listening to the media where a man is incorporating propaganda into his speech.
The scene where we, the audience understand V's past portrays the theme of a Totalitarian state and it's effects of oppression. We understand that V and Valerie have been put into a concentration camp run by the government for testing, due to them going against norms that the government praises. Although we do not directly know why V has been placed in this concentration camp, we know that other prisoners such as Valerie have been due to their sexuality or religious beliefs.
Conclusion
Religion, revolution and terrorism and the totalitarian state and oppression are all key themes that are incorporated into the film in order to portray an important message in the film. Within the film V For Vendetta there are many significant messages. One being to subvert the government you are controlled by, this is not only conveyed through the theme of revolution and terrorism but also through the narrative. The film does not conform to a stereotypical Classic Hollywood Narrative, but instead subverts this narrative, this directly portrays to the audience that they too should subvert the society's norms and values that the government inflicts upon them to obey.
