In simple terms, Gattaca, a 1997 movie, can be described as a sci-fi adventure that is combined with a crime narrative. The viewer is treated to a relentless action throughout the movie as the police engage in a search for a murder. As the story unfolds, the viewer’s attention is turned to a young lad known as Vincent, also named ‘Jerome’ by his workmates. Vincent is trying to overcome his biological challenges that he was born with in his quest to become an elite astronaut in a space program run by Gattaca Corporation. As the two stories unfold in a delicately intertwined plot, the viewer is introduced to the central issues around the film, centered on a spiral staircase in Vincent’s apartment. The staircase connects Jerome with Vincent, and also with Anton, which, in turn, brings forth life’s spiral symbol which is the heart of the whole story: DNA, the twofold helix carrying the genetic information of all living organisms . Andrew Niccol, the film’s writer and director, uses varied styles in the film such as flashback and crosscutting to effectively bring out the themes of oppression, the burden of perfection and discrimination in a futuristic setting.
The film portrays a miserable forthcoming world in which people belonging to the invalid group with unfavorable genetic makeup have desolate prospects because their DNA profiles disqualify them from having good careers. Vincent, the main character played by Ethan Hawke, belongs to the condemned genomic underclass. He decides to fight the system instead of accepting his predicament in his quest to becoming an established astronaut. He does this by impersonating Jerome, a paraplegic lad who possesses a superior gene. He presents Jerome’s biological materials such as blood and urine to the testing team as his own and, that way, he gets admitted to the Gattaca space program as one of the astronauts. In the last scene, Vincent enters the spaceship, a big triumph for him as this is his crowning achievement. The viewer is left to figure out on his or her own whether this is truly a triumph borne out of invincibility and admirable strength of the human spirit or indefensible recklessness.
The scientific methods used provide a good basis for accepting futuristic science as generally correct, while providing a background upon which the entire premise of the movie is based. Since genetic makeup is used to determine an individual’s suitability in any given career in the film, the measurements given only give an indicative conclusion that is not too strong or too weak. This means that Vincent’s unsuitability as an astronaut is not completely determinable forthrightly as this would mean he would definitely suffer a heart attack if he embarks on a space journey. Despite Vincent’s early declaration that his exact cause as well as time of his death is already known, all other assertions based on genetic science leave the viewer with a bit of uncertainty as to whether the conclusions are definite. This tradeoff in definite conclusions and weak conclusions provides the right balance that ensures that it does not make Vincent’s triumph a small achievement and does not predict his predicament with certainty .
The director of the film effectively uses varied styles in bringing out the main themes of the movie: that of future worlds, the affliction of perfection and oppression. The opening of the movie possess numerous questions for the viewer, an aspect that keeps the viewer glued to the screen for the entirety of the movie. Questions such as who has been murdered and who is really culpable for the death and if the gentleman who we follow from home is not Jerome as he presents himself, then who is he? This hooks the viewer right at the beginning of the film and creates an entry point in the exploration of the futuristic society which is the central theme in the movie .
The central themes in the movie, although in the context of a future world, are very much applicable and relevant in the present society. The burden of perfection as created in the movie is a timeless theme in the society; it was relevant in the past, present and will certainly afflict future societies. The notion portrayed in the movie that one has to be perfect to succeed in life is a total lie as Vincent overcomes his imperfections to realize his dream. Within Gattaca, everyone is taught from a very tender age that to succeed, you have to be perfect, and that anything that is not 100% complete is a complete failure. This is emotionally retrogressive for human progress as it inhibits growth in individuals who feel they are lacking talent and ability. Discrimination is also a theme that is relevant today and well brought out in the movie. The elites are represented as better people than those who are considered lacking talent and ability due to what is considered inferior genetic makeup. There is oppression in Gattaca and in the current society as the world is ruled by science and an elite few.
The styles used in the movie very well help the director in putting his message that human triumph, thanks to an unbreakable spirit of determination, is imperative for success and overcoming barriers in life. The film employs as extensive use of flashback by setting the stage with questions that must be later addressed in the film and also laying out numerous conflicts that have to be resolved as the plot unfolds. The plot switches delicately between two concurrent subplots and flashbacks sequences are extensively used featuring the rivalry between Anton and Vincent’s childhood. Crosscutting is also extensively employed by the director between the lives of Jerome/Vincent and Eugene/Vincent. The decision to use this crosscutting is structural as the two parallel existences help in bringing out the themes as well as issues in Gattaca.
The structure that is adopted by the director of the film helps the viewer a great deal in understanding the film. Gattaca uses a visual style that is not only striking but also scintillating. This helps the viewer focus his or her attention to the key issues of the movie. The viewer can easily identify the cool as well as dispassionate tone of the interior sequences through varied sounds and images. Cleanliness, order and space are evident in most of the scenes including inside Vincent’s house and even inside Gattaca, the space program. This Gattaca society clearly rejects chaos, imperfection and disorder. Niccol, the film’s director, shows the viewer a world that is litter-free and very tidy.
In conclusion, the film makes an effective use of plot, style and structure to communicate an imperative message that one does not have to be perfect to succeed in life, and that oppression is a reality in the modern society and that discrimination is evil and should be eliminated from the society. The movie as set in a future world is a perfect reflection of the modern world in many aspects.
Works Cited
Freeman, Mark. "Gattaca." 2006. Wiki Educator. Document. <http://wikieducator.org/images/6/60/Gattaca_-_Insight.pdf>.
Sesardic, Neven. "Gattaca." n.d. Lingnan University. Document. 9 May 2016. <http://www.ln.edu.hk/philoso/staff/sesardic/Gattaca.pdf>.
Teg, Sue. "Gattaca." 2012. Insight Publications Pty Ltd. Document. 9 May 2016. <http://www.insightpublications.com.au/pdf_preview/tg-gattaca-10-pages.pdf>.
