Soundtrack Sunday: V for Vendetta (2005)
Credit: www.impawards.com
First of all welcome back for Soundtrack Sunday: V for Vendetta (2005). We bring you a film that is built upon the legend of Guy Fawkes and we thought that would fit in with it being Bonfire night her in the UK. To begin with lets start with the simple nursery Rhyme we use for bonfire night:
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.
By god’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!
The Gunpowder Plot
Currently this rhyme is introduced to us at a young age to help realise the history of Bonfire night. On november 5th 1605 there was a plot to blow up the houses of parliament and all those inside. Ultimately some members of the group realised this would hurt people even those they knew supported the Catholics. Catholics at the time were the minority and not supported by parliament or the monarchy at the time. The king and members of parliament met in the houses of parliament and made decisions that made the catholics lives difficult.
Most importantly word got round to the king and his forces set out to stop this terrible plot. On the whole we know Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellar with 36 barrels of gunpowder and then tortured and executed. Fires were lit to celebrate the safety of the king on that night and are done on the same night ever since. I even remember when we used to make a Guy (a straw representation of guy Fawkes). This would be put on the bonfire on the night and set a light.
V for Vendetta (2005)
Based on the DC/vertigo Comics V for Vendetta which were published in 1988 for a limited time. This film is set in a futuristic Great Britain where a young woman named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman – Thor) take part in helping bring down a fascist government. Evey is saved from a life and death situation by V (Hugo Weaving – The Matrix) who wears a Guy Fawkes mask.
Credit: www.fireworksinternationsl.co.uk
During 2027 where America has had a 2nd civil war and a pandemic of St Mary’s virus so is in fracture. Great britain is a fascist police state and is under the rule of a powerful High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt – Harry Potter and Dr Who). To illustrate his mission V ignites a revolution against this fascist rule by using terrorist tactics and hiding using the Guy Fawkes mask. In addition to help aid the mission the Guy Fawkes mask is handed out to those who would help and support him. This soon becomes key to hide their identities from the government that rules them.
The Music
Most importantly the movie has an incredible score to it that will make you feel what is going on more than some as it and also has three tracks with Vocals. So let’s have a listen at some of those tunes.
Remember Remember by Dario Marianelli
Cry me a River by Julie London
Lust at the Abbey by Dario Marianelli
I Found a Reason by Cat Power
Knives, Bullets (and cannons too) by Dario Marianelli
Finally I would like to thank you all for listening and looking into the history of Guy Fawkes as it plays a part in this film. See you all next week for another soundtrack sunday.
