The Power of an Idea

“We are told to remember the idea and not the man. Because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten. But 400 years later, an idea can still change the world”. The character V in the film V for Vendetta is more than a person – he represents an idea. The idea that one man can create anarchy is central to the key theme of ‘the power of an idea’ in the film and is well suited to the dystopian genre. Director James McTeigue utilised the cinematography techniques of montage, dialogue and soundtrack to help viewers understand this theme and its importance in our current society.

McTeigue’s use of montage and soundtrack in the ‘domino scene’ portrays the power of an idea. As V places the first domino on the ground, marching, militaristic music begins, growing as the camera cuts to the boxes of ‘Guy Fawkes’ masks being shipped. The use of these techniques shows how V’s plan is falling into place, but that the distribution of the masks, undoubtedly a difficult feat, is only a small part of his larger plan. This is clear from the fact that the intensity caused by faster changes in the montage and the powerful soundtrack only grows from this point in the scene. In the film, V wears a Guy Fawkes mask to symbolise his defiance against the government. This mask has been used by protestors all over the world, including the ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous, to represent “social justice through lawbreaking”. Viewers in this day and age recognise this mask as a symbol of anarchy. We understand that the director has purposefully used montage to show the distribution of the masks, communicating that V’s revolution is growing: the power of an idea can make change. When we see Inspector Finch open a box to find the first mask, ominous music in a minor key is introduced, adding suspense and reminding viewers that as much as we have come to like the anti-hero V, he is seen as a terrorist in his society. V places more dominos as the music builds, and the camera cuts between this and Inspector Finch’s office, where the phones are ringing off the hook and he is starting to put together the pieces of V’s plan. We see more dominos placed before viewing a burglar (wearing a Guy Fawkes mask) yell “anarchy in the UK”. The use of montage in this moment demonstrates that V’s ‘idea’ is coming to fruition, shown when the screen cuts between more dominos being placed and chaos taking over London. This cinematography technique aids viewers in their understanding of the film, creating a direct link between V placing dominos (representing the planning of his idea) and the anarchy that ensues because of this. The use of these techniques fulfils the director’s intention of highlighting the power of an idea, a key theme in the film. McTeigue has purposefully combined montage and soundtrack to emphasise the importance of this moment and help viewers make sense of the entire plot. By retelling parts of the story, including some future events, the use of montage indicates to viewers that the power of V’s idea is so strong it will result in success. The director has used montage to remind viewers of the plot, combined with powerful music that highlights the importance of the story coming together. This demonstrates that this moment in the film, when the ‘power of an idea’ is most on display, is of significance. Later in the scene, the montage includes real-life footage of the Brixton riots, playing as the dominos fall. At this point the soundtrack is overpowering, with the loud noise of the dominos falling, and building music, mixed with the sounds of the Brixton riots. This demonstrates to viewers the intense nature of V’s idea and the power of an idea in general. The use of the real-life riot footage reminds viewers that the film is dystopian, and a warning of what could happen if we don’t learn lessons from our past. Because this footage is included, viewers are prompted to consider how dystopias can become reality, as elements of dystopian societies exist in our past and present. We have seen this in recent months, as riots continue in America and around the world, sparked by the death of George Floyd, supporting the larger Black Lives Matter cause. One man’s death can change the world- the power of an idea is insurmountable.

In the ‘fight scene’, McTeigue utilised soundtrack and dialogue to present ‘the power of an idea’. At the beginning of the scene, the Chancellor is seen speaking on TV, saying “My fellow Englishmen, tonight our country, that which we stand for and all that we hold dear faces a terrible threat…” this monologue is significant because it labels V as the ‘threat’ to public safety, though viewers understand that the threat is in fact Chancellor Sutler and his government. As these lines are spoken, the music in the background is comprised of ominous sounding chords, played to a marching rhythm. While the dialogue suggests to viewers that V is the threat, the soundtrack indicates otherwise. By playing negative music beneath this fascist scene, director James McTeigue shows viewers that Sutler is evil, with seemingly infinite control. When V later dismantles his regime, viewers understand just how powerful V’s idea is. The combination of cinematography techniques used in this moment reminds viewers that the film is a dystopia, and the military can assume control as they have in the past. V for Vendetta is set in the year 2020. This year we have seen military forces on the streets in the U.S. and other elements of dystopian societies all around the world. In the film, McTeigue has used the cinematography techniques of soundtrack and dialogue to prompt viewers to consider that dystopias are not a far-off nightmare, but a possible future. As V unmasks and speaks to the Chancellor later in the scene, an almost dreamlike sequence of four ascending note on a harp is played repeatedly, slowly at first, then becoming faster. This progression continues as Mr Creedy utters the word ‘”disgusting” before killing the Chancellor, and the once dreamlike pattern is drowned out by the crescendo of a minor chord, heightening the suspense viewers feel before Chancellor Sutler is shot. This conveys the director’s intention to showcase the power of an idea, and the growing power and importance of V’s ‘idea’ throughout the movie is paralleled by the soundtrack in this moment. The dialogue used later in the scene reinforces this: “Beneath this mask there is more than flesh, beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.” Through the soundtrack and dialogue in this scene, McTeigue emphasises the power of an idea to viewers, exposing the way that change can be made in our society.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream”. By the end of the film, V is dead but his idea lives on. The cinematography techniques used in V for Vendetta present the power of an idea, and the change that can come from one. Just as “400 years later, an idea can still change the world”, Dr King’s idea has not been fully realised 57 years after his famous speech. Though we do not yet live in the world he envisioned, Dr King’s dream is so powerful that we have changed laws, perception and more to attempt to live it. A ‘dystopia’ is defined as “an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice” yet in V for Vendetta the power of an idea can overcome this. Black people all over the world have faced “great suffering or injustice” for centuries, and we are gradually making progress. Dr King’s dream is a real-life example of the power of an idea (albeit slowly) changing the world.