V for Vendetta

This 2006 vintage movie was set in the near future and depicts the US as a failed third world nation while Britain is governed by a totalitarian regime that uses religion, fear, media manipulation, censorship, draconian laws, electronic surveillance, and the rendition of citizens by Gestapo-like forces to ensure the safety of the people from an undefined, existential threat. Foiled against the repressive government is “V”, a hero depicted as a “Guy Fawkes” mask-wearing former entertainer who had been rendered, tortured, and used as a test subject by the government to develop a biological weapon in scenes designed to parallel the actions of the Nazi regime against the Jews during the Holocaust. Through government defined “terrorist acts”, “V” exposes the government’s corruption, incites the citizens to unite to regain their lost liberties, and to retake control of the government from the all powerful “Chancellor” and his shadowy council representing intelligence, law enforcement, media and religion.

The movie is a thinly veiled warning directed at the American public to condemn the actions of the Bush/Cheney (US) and Blair (UK) administrations following the 9/11 attacks as well as the uncontrolled pursuit of “Homeland Security” at all costs. Characters depicted in the movie are transparent renderings of Donald Rumsfeld (SECDEF), John Ashcroft (Attorney General), Robert Mueller (FBI), various US intelligence agency leaders, and elected officials, who framed the discourse and public knowledge during the early stages of the GWOT. The movie proposes the idea that many of the actual, unsolved or thwarted “terrorist” events experienced by the US since 9/11 (anthrax letters, failed Times Square, Portland or Congress bombings etc) may have been conducted by our own government to ensure the public would acquiesce to the loss of our rights and freedoms through the Patriot Act and other legislation passed during that time period.

The East vs. West (us vs. them) religious undertones of the actual GWOT, as described by the US and UK administrations, is highlighted in the movie through references to Muslims and Islam as godless and the Koran as a banned, “objectionable” book while an enlightened, repressed homosexual character describes the Koran as a “beautiful” work of art. In contrast, the producer chose to represent western religions through a corrupt, collusive, pedophile Catholic priest who helped the Chancellor rise to power and continue to control the masses. The description of America’s failure being due to our turning away from our religious underpinnings further highlights the Bush/Cheney administration’s consistent reference to Christian values as the “right” side of the GWOT.

This movie is a frightening, graphical warning to our citizens of the importance of retaining our liberties and values even when faced with perceived threats. It also questions the success and goals of the Homeland Security enterprise and how far the government will encroach on the Constitution in the pursuit of safety and if it is even necessary. As Homeland leaders, these questions must always guide our implementation of new security programs and processes. To quote “V” — “the people should not fear its government, the government should fear the people.”