This week’s film, V for Vendetta, takes place in a dystopian version of Britain, wherein an authoritarian government hordes power and stifles citizen freedoms. The film tells the story of a largely mysterious hero-esque character, who ultimately inspires a much-needed revolution through acts of violence and terrorism. As with any film heavily centered around a dystopian government, V for Vendetta has long been a source of political analysis and reference. This was particularly true in the years immediately following its release. Even now, however, as the film arguably loses some of its political relevancy, it still raises interesting ideas about morality and the justification of violence. The character of ‘V’ was simultaneously a triumphant hero, committed to instigating change for the masses of Britain, while also being heinously violent and arguably self-motivated (due to his own negative experiences with the government). In this way, the film makes an interesting departure from the classic superhero archetype. ‘V’ is a sympathetic character, clearly looking for human experiences and emotional fulfillment to make up for his tortuous past; however, his manipulation of Evey and glee over death and destruction adds a considerable complexity to his character profile. I liked that, ultimately, there was no decisive conclusion on the quality of the film’s central character — his decency is left to the judgment of the viewer. This film effectively captures the often overlooked duality of the revolutionary, raising profound questions about what we can still consider heroic in the face of villainy.