Andrew Niccol uses dialogue, camera angles, and symbolism to show the main themes of his film ‘Gattaca’ - discrimination, perfection and determination. ‘Gattaca’ is about a seemingly utopian country with no illness and no disease. Though these people are genetically made, making it physically impossible to find an imperfection. The film is about how people are treated unfairly due to being imperfect in their pristine economy. Vincent born as an ‘in-valid’ has to prove that he is just as worthy as the ‘valids’.
Discrimination is shown all throughout the film, being the most prominent idea. Andrew Niccol uses dialogue and camera angles to show this idea. The ‘valids’ are known as being perfect or flawless whereas invalids are inferior and inadequate. Vincent is known as ‘One of God's children’ meaning he was born naturally. Technology shows that he had a serious heart condition as well as other illnesses. Because of these conditions, his parents struggled to get him into childcare and pre-school. After the childcare worker denied Vincent’s application, a camera angle shows the principal shutting the steel gate, locking Vincent and his parents out. The camera angle focuses on little Vincent’s hand and the steel gate shutting, giving the effect that they are being shut out or imprisoned. Vincent is being denied the opportunities other children get because of who he is. People are badly discriminated because they are not like others and over things, they cannot change every day. Companies hire people who have a long lifespan and preferably no known illnesses or diseases. When Vincent is going to a job interview, he narrates. “The best test store isn’t going to matter unless I had the blood test to go with it”. Skills and intelligence don’t factor in unless you are made up of a certain DNA. Discrimination is evidently seen throughout the whole film using the techniques, camera angles, and dialogue.
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Perfection is what all characters in ‘Gattaca’ aspire to achieve. Niccol uses all three techniques, symbolism, dialogue and camera angles to show perfection. A blood test at Gattaca was done during the film to catch the invalid the detectives suspected killed the director. A tracking shot focuses on each employee as it eventually stops on Vincent. All the employees have a stern but emotionless look on their face as they line up in perfect unity. Their uniforms are neat and tidy showing sophistication and professionalism. Low-angle shots of the rising figures indicate that these people are high society. Gattaca doesn’t strive for anything less than perfect and their employees show that. Symbolism and dialogue were used to show the idea of perfection when Jerome Morrow shows Vincent his silver medal shortly after meeting. He says, “Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium”. The silver medal is a clear flaw in the apparent perfected genetics he supposed to have. Even the high society who are promised perfection can fail. ‘Gattaca’ shows that perfection is impossible to achieve since all of humanity has flaws and faults.
The director used dialogue and symbolism to show determination in ‘Gattaca’. The technique dialogue was shown when Vincent took over Jerome’s identity, he had to extend his legs 2 inches to be the same height as Jerome. This meant he had to undergo a painful surgery involving breaking both his legs. After the surgery, Vincent says, “Jerome never questioned my commitment again. I took my mind off the pain by reminding myself that when I eventually did stand up, I would be exactly two inches closer to the stars”. This is a big example of how determined Vincent is and how far he will go to have everyone presume he is Jerome Morrow. ‘Gattaca’ shows that determination is key to achieving success and without determination, you may never seek for that one thing you need to achieve. In Jerome’s home, there is a spiral staircase with a symbolic message of DNA helix. During the film, Jerome has a surprise visit from Irene and Anton. The keypad to answer the door is on the upper level of his home. To answer the door Jerome had to climb the DNA helix only using his upper-body strength. This scene shows symbolism, the DNA helix was a metaphor that Jerome couldn’t live up to his genetic expectations. He was determined enough to break that illusion and prove to himself and the audience that he's not just a silver medalist. Determination is not stopping even after it seems like you can’t go any further. The most determined people were the ones that came from nothing.
Andrew Niccol uses symbolism, camera angles and dialogue to show the ideas of discrimination, perfection, and determination in his film ‘Gattaca’. He shows that perfection is a burden, no one can achieve perfection because everyone has flaws, whether you can accept that or not. People are discriminated over unchangeable features, features that make them unique and special. Determination is something everyone needs to have to aspire to success in their life.
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