This presentation outlines some of the film techniques dealt with in one of the closing scenes of V for Vendetta. It's aim is to help scaffold writing an essay on the idea of Justice and Revenge or Power and Control in regard to the final fight scene, where Adam Sutler and Creedy are killed - aiming at Excellence for Level 1 NCEA.

1. for
ing e
Aim enc
cell
Ex
Power and Control /
Justice and Revenge
Essays

2. Essays you could
answer with this content:
• Describe at least ONE conflict in the text(s). Explain why the
conflict was important to the text(s) as a whole, supporting
your points with examples of visual and / or oral language
features.
• Describe at least ONE idea that you thought was important in
the text(s). Explain how visual / oral language features were
used to show you the idea(s) was important.
• Describe at least ONE important event at (or near) the end of
the text(s). Explain why the event(s) helped you understand
the director’s idea(s). Discuss visual / oral text features in your
response.

3. Parallel Action Sutler's broadcast vs Final fight
• The mise-en-scene of the parallel action shows
Adam Sutler's final broadcast, played on 5 television
sets, about justice and enemies. The irony of his
speech is shown through the parallel action - Sutler
is receiving the swift justice from V that he deserves
and that matches his own speech. It also shows no
one is listening to him anymore and he's lost power
because of the empty seats.
• This is paralleled with V meeting with Creedy, his
guards and the captive Sutler underground.

4. Dialogue - Sutler's
broadcast
• "My fellow Englishmen: tonight our country, that
which we stand for, and all we hold dear, faces a
grave and terrible threat. This violent and
unparalleled assault on our security will not
go undefended... or unpunished. Our enemy is
an insidious one, seeking to divide us and
destroy the very foundation of our great nation.
Tonight, we must remain steadfast. We must
remain determined. But most of all, we must
remain united. Those caught tonight in violation
of curfew will be considered in league with our
enemy and prosecuted as a terrorist without
leniency or exception. Tonight, I give you my
most solemn vow: that justice will be swift, it
will be righteous, and it will be without mercy.

5. • The V or 5 is constantly brought about in
obvious and subtle ways to continually
remind the viewer of the mission and justify
V's murderous and terrorist tactics as an
acceptable means of carrying out his work.

6. High/Low angle shots +
Performance
• V is visually shown to gain control/power over Sutler and Creedy through
the use of high angle shots of Sutler and the subtle low angle shots of V
High angles showing loss of power
Low angle + performance showing power/control
gain

7. Symbolism symbolic comparison between V's
broadcast and Sutler's
V's broadcast
5 TVs shown with people all avidly paying
attention to V’s message
Sutler's broadcast
Same 5 TVs shown with no one watching – all
of the seats are empty
Government in control – Government officials V gains control - Creedy’s closest mean trying
trying to find V by storming the BTN tower
to find V, so they storm the Underground.
BTN tower = high building, clearly shows
power and control. It represents the
government’s, in particular Sutler’s, control
over England
5th of November
Underground – V’s operation is underground
figuratively and literally. It is the place where
he gains final control over the government:
- He finishes killing the leaders
- He gets Evey to blow up parliament with him
on the train.
4th of November a year later

8. Symbolism symbolic comparison between V's
broadcast and Sutler's
V's broadcast
Sutler's broadcast

9. Dialogue - Creedy vs V
• Creedy: [desperately shooting at the
approaching V] Die! Die! Why won't you
die?... Why won't you die?
• V: Beneath this mask there is more
than flesh. Beneath this mask there is
an idea, Mr. Creedy. And ideas are
bulletproof.
V stays standing long after he should have
because he's driven by his thirst for justice and
revenge.

10. Essay Structure
• Introduction - funnel
• Paragraph 1 - parallel action/ironic dialogue
• Paragraph 2 - high/low angle shots
• Paragraph 3 - symbolic comparison between
V and Sutler
• Conclusion - reverse funnel

11. Body Paragraphs
Structure
Topic Statement
Describe the section of the scene you will talk about that shows the idea
Identify the technique used to show this
Example
Describe what is happening at the time the technique is used in the film,
using film language
eXplanation
Explain how this shows the idea and why that makes it important/memorable
Analysis
Explain what this shows us about human behaviour
Discuss how this is similar/different to something in your life or wider society.
Summary
Restate that the technique used helps show the idea
Link back to essay topic

12. Introduction
Broad idea quote e.g. "The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta... for
the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the
vigilant and the virtuous."
Link quote to text and essay topic e.g. In the visual text V
for Vendetta, directed by James McTeigue, the final fight
scene clearly illustrates the idea of control and power.
Outline techniques that show this e.g. In this scene
McTeigue uses parallel action, ironic dialogue and
symbolism to develop our understanding of the
change in power and control through the
direct comparison of V and Adam Sutler.

13. Paragraph 1
Parallel Action
Topic Statement
Firstly, in the beginning of this scene the director uses parallel action to make a direct comparison between
Chancellor Adam Sutler and V. This comparison helps develop our understanding of the idea of power and
control.
Example
For example, we see close ups and mid-shots of the TVs broadcasting Sutler's final speech crosscut with V
meeting Creedy, his guards and captive Sutler in the underground, where he kills them. This is used alongside
Sutler's ironic speech about punishment, unity and justice. "Tonight, I give you my most solemn vow: that
justice will be swift, it will be righteous, and it will be without mercy."
eXplanation
This use of parallel action and ironic dialogue helps show the idea of justice and revenge because it visually
illustrates V upholding justice by killing Sutler, then the guards and Creedy. V is killing the remaining leaders of
Norsefire, thus getting his revenge for ill-treatment and justice for all of the wrongs these government leaders
have committed.
Analysis
The idea of power and control can be seen in real life through the revolutions that have happened throughout
history, such as the uprisings that have happened in Egypt and Turkey recently. When societies try to stand up
for themselves you often see a struggle for justice and sometimes it results in people becoming bloodthirsty and
hateful, such as the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. V's hate for the government fuelled his bloody
sense of justice and revenge, and resulted in him gaining power and control over the minds of a country.
Summary
In this scene it is clear the V's conflict struggle for power with the government is driven by a desire for his justice
and revenge.

14. Conclusion
Outline techniques that show this e.g. In summary,
the parallel action, ironic dialogue and symbolic comparison
between V and Sutler all work together to develop the idea of
justice and revenge in the final fight scene.
Link quote to text and essay topic e.g. McTeigue's development
of this idea is crucial to our understanding of the driving force
behind V's actions.
Broad idea quote e.g. "The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta... for
the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the
virtuous."