A for Anarchy


Caught a late showing of "V for Vendetta" [showtimes] last night with headlouse and nifercritter and enjoyed it far more than I had expected to. To be sure, my expectations were very low, due both to the Wachowski's execrable sequels to The Matrix, and writer Alan Moore's strident disavowals of the film. Moore's key objections are the elimination of any mention of V as an anarchist, as well as the "de-fanging" of the fascist regime that V opposed. As Moore said in one interview, the film "sort of [recasts those extremes] as current American neo-conservativism vs. current American liberalism."

While I certainly agree with him, and would have dearly loved to have seen V, a clearly anarchistic figure, openly referred to as such, I'm not sure that it makes the film less effective. In fact, by consistently (and sometimes awkwardly) referring to V as a "terrorist", the parallels to the current political environment are made more obvious and potentially more accessible to those who have not yet begun to question the authority or morality of the state, or the rationale behind active resistance to it. If "V for Vendetta" encourages such thought on any scale, especially among those who might not otherwise have considered it, I will count it as a Victory.

Apparently I'm not the only one with this thought. A quick look on the internets turned up A for Anarchy, a website designed to reestablish V's true identity as an anarchist, and to answer basic questions about anarchist philosophy to curious moviegoers. It also features excellent sections of links for further anarchist info and some well-known direct action campaigns that people might choose to participate in. There is also a flyer [ front | back | both ] that YOU can print out and distribute at movie theatres.

If all of this sounds too optimistic, please forgive me. I certainly realize that "V for Vendetta" is essentially just another piece of exploitative Hollywood crap, polished to a high sheen for mass consumption (read: purchase). But underneath that glossy exterior there beats a seditious heart, pumping blood both red and black, and whispering:

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November..."