Introduction
The opening scene of the movie “V for Vendetta” takes place on the streets of London, and depicts Evey, being harassed by state thugs for being out after curfew. It is at this point that the audience is introduced to the hero V, who saves day. I know this movie was based on a graphic novel written in the 1980s, but the opening scene reminded me of the opening scene in Vin Suprynowicz’s novel, The Black Arrow.
Comparison of the opening scenes
“You cannot kiss an idea,” says an attractive wench (Natalie Portman) at a public execution in 1605. “They do not bleed. They do not love.” They also look very silly dangling on the end of a rope. The great idea was to bomb the Houses of Parliament. The bright spark was Guy Fawkes. Welcome to the opening scene of V for Vendetta, a veritable time machine of a film that whisks us from the gallows to the near future to try out this brilliant plan all over again. You can’t fault the logic of James McTeigue’s thriller.
The scene can not be regarded as sad, or evil, or even mysterious. It is impressive. It aims to impress the watcher, in order everybody, once started watching it, finished it without any stop. It catches the attention by the depth of Natalie Portman’s voice, starting the movie, by the puzzle of the beginning, as nothing could be understood: what is the location, what is the man being caught, why he is hung up. The puzzles attract. The complication of the opening scene stands for emphasizing the hard times, which are pictured in the movie, as the main character struggles totalitarian government of Great Britain, and thus, the image of the chase depicts the seditious character of the V (and Guy Fawkes).
The chase symbolizes the difficulty of lives of those who think differently from their government, and the barks of the dogs underline the fact, that dissentients struggle severely. It is confirmed in the next scene, when the dissentient is hung up publicly, in order nobody even thought to repeat the attempt of the take-over.
The monologue is for depicting the inhospitality of the times when totalitarian governments rule (King Jacob I, and the government of 2038, shown in the film). The words, that the ideas can not be kissed, held or touched stand for the fact, that only those ideas have the right to live, which live in the hearts and heads of ordinary people. It is necessary to highlight, that there is no need to create special clubs, associations to keep the ideas alive; as is shown in the example of Guy Fawkes, the daredevil will arise from the people’s mass and will give the idea another chance to fulfill. Gunpowder Plot just depicts the necessity of struggling the governments, which segregate, discriminate, and depress their people. Every revolution is the reply of dissatisfied people to their governments, and like the idea of Marxist revolution points, there are stops, kickbacks are possible, but if the revolution is really helpful, it will necessarily succeed.
Continuing the analysis of the opening scene, and mentioning every detail, it is necessary to depict, that the words “Remember, remember” stand for not only the aim of remembering the verses, but Words of “Remember Remember” refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November, 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. It is underlined, the Guy Fawkes is the national hero, and despite the fact, and that the officials sentenced him to execution, he would live in the hearts of people, and his idea of Plot will not be forgotten, even despite it can not be kissed and held.
Summary
Thus, everything that needed to be mentioned, and pointed, have already found its place in the review. The only thing that is left is to give the full version of the rhymes, as the shortened variant given in the movie does not give the full impression and imagination of the tragedy:
Remember, Remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgotten.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence, he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Though these verses are known to every schoolchild, the repetition would remind us of the existence of heroes, who may lead the people to victory in the struggle against unfairness and unjust officials.