Andrew Niccol directs a movie which presents a theme of bigotry in the sense that the future of discrimination would no longer be determined by social status or race, but rather science. The film ‘Gattaca’ sends a message that both wins over prejudice and consequently overpowers any sense of individuality. Set in the not too distant future, every human status is defined by genetic formation. Eugenics is the process of conceiving children through genetic manipulation. Eugenics is the most common procedure for birth-giving. Discrimination is deemed illegal, but life paths and occupations are judged based on analysis of DNA. Natural born children are known as ‘in-valids’ and have less access to jobs and good education. Among the last generation of natural born, is Vincent Freeman, the protagonist of the film. In ‘Gattaca’, genetic engineering set has shaped a culture of discrimination based on science. Genetic engineering in ‘Gattaca’ gives an idea of utopia from a distance, but closer up shows the toxicity of what the world has become.
The movie ‘Gattaca’ sends a message that both wins over prejudice and consequently overpowers any sense of individuality. ‘Gattaca’ explores the importance of individuality. We can see that there is an obvious lack of individuality. Everyone dresses the same, no one socializes with each other, and they are almost indistinguishable between each other. The movie suggests that perfection exterminates individuality. ‘Gattaca’ proves the need for imperfection to maintain humanity. Vincent, a child conceived by love, with a heart condition and ADHD, and a life expectancy of 30.2 years have the urge to go against the norm and go into space. Jerome, a eugenic baby, was designed to be perfect, or what is deemed perfect. The society seems to think there shouldn’t be any room for improvement, so it is what Vincent as brought up to believe. Failure wouldn’t come as a surprise to Vincent, but he still continues to try to achieve his goal no matter what. Jerome was designed to succeed, so when he doesn’t come number one, he doesn’t believe there is a reason to live, and tries to end his life. There is a symbol in ‘Gattaca’ that plays an underlying message in Eugene’s hatred towards himself. The item is revealed when Eugene is emptying his identity through blood samples for Vincent. He wheels himself to Vincent, currently identifying as an ‘in-valid’, and pulls out a silver medal he won during his last swimming comp. This is one of the only times that the camera shows the two characters - the ‘valid’ and ‘in-valid’ - at the same eye level, which could symbolize a midpoint for their transformations - the only time they are equal, or another way of showing that they both suffer through the way the society sees humanity.
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In ‘Gattaca’, genetic engineering set has shaped a culture of discrimination based on science. Discrimination against ‘in-valids’ is supported - assuming genetic manipulation perfects a human. But there is no proof that pre-determined fate is an advantage. According to the director, the discrimination presented in the movie is as dangerous as the discrimination that exists today based on race, gender and religion. Humanity is defined according to relationships with higher powers. Assumptions are made about each person and their differences, and labels are placed for who can be successful and who has little hope. Scientific proof is the topic for discrimination, DNA is what determines success. It becomes apparent in the film that the circumstances in which a child would come to life would somewhat determine the life ahead of them in this society. Vincent’s flashbacks prove this when he says “they used to say that a child conceived in love has a far greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore”. Life is genetically restrained 5 seconds into a child’s life, and before the child is born, to ensure the ‘best possible start’. The environment shows a controlled society giving genetic perfection a better hand than anything else; overpowering human desire and relationships. Traits like personality, beliefs values and morals hold no value in this society.
Your life is only defined by your status: ‘in-valid’ or ‘valid’. The opening credits of the movie sets the scene of controlled physical perfection. Vincent is shown scrubbing his body and removing any evidence of his status. Close-ups of DNA which symbolize the importance of scientific identity. The ‘valid’, considered perfect, are set back by a lack of aspiration, but ‘in-valids’ are set back by the idea of access to achieve their goals and dreams, automatically ruling out due to their DNA.
Genetic engineering in ‘Gattaca’ gives an idea of utopia from a distance, but closer up shows the toxicity of what the world has become. The idea that every life is determined by a drop of their blood which refines the idea of perfection in such a society. Disabilities, disadvantages, diseases, all lower chances of the quality of each life because they are automatically ruled out and is known as an ‘in-valid’. The idea of perfection seems like a utopian topic at the time, but knowing that success is defined by a set of rules which make up an idea of perfect proves that this is a dystopian society. Through science, civilization is able to rid the world of disease and illness; a utopic concept. Life for the genetically managed resembles perfect, demonstrated through implications such as “for the genetically superior, success is easier to obtain”. Under the surface, such a society offers a dystopian culture. Jerome’s story shows that life for ‘valids’ isn’t perfect, and the subjection of the ‘in-valids’, like Vincent, captured in a world that is defined to think ‘no one exceeds his potential’. The world is almost opposite perfect, as each, ‘in-valid’ and ‘valid’, are taught that there is no point in trying to excel the standards of their genetic code.
Andrew Niccol directs a movie which presents a theme of bigotry in the sense that the future of discrimination would no longer be determined by social status or race, but rather science. The dystopian society sets a culture that discriminates based on genetic engineering instead of race, religion and gender, which gives a set idea of perfect, consequently removing any idea of individuality and identity. Vincent’s perspective proves that the society’s idea that perfect means success and anything less would end up in failure, but Vincent proves that wrong. He uses a mask of DNA and shows that his abilities are enough to pass to achieve his goal. Andrew Niccol directs a movie that has many underlying symbols and meanings that present an overall theme of science fiction that leaves the audience thinking about future, identity and what being perfect really means.
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