A cinematic marvel that was way beyond its time. Andrew Niccol’s directorial debut served to be a significant contribution to the sci-fi/dystopian genre. “Gattaca” blends the harmful racial and societal norms perpetuating in the world from a futuristic perspective. The protagonist, Vincent Freeman, is born into a world driven by eugenics where he does not fit. Genetically, Vincent is not as healthy as his brother or any of his fellows with whom he’d have to compete one day, making his dream of going into space way more distant than it seems. Ethan Hawke and Jude Law showcase their stellar performances as two individuals who rely on each other for the life they want.
Andrew Niccol’s debut as a director laid the foundation for similar future works, where he will be seen crafting characters who are both anxious and edgy. Usually set in a society different from ours, Niccol aims to reveal the effect of technological advancements on human society. The flawed picture of the modern world is often ignored by the presented idea of an ideal future where the theme of ‘survival of the fittest’ remains common. His obsession with science fiction and the dystopian genre has stayed constant throughout his career. The plots offer something superior to the already-existing world.
This particular project was about the ever-intriguing wonders of genetic engineering. As the possibilities of eugenics remain unfathomable, “Gattaca” offers an insightful window through which to see what the world could look like “sometime in the future.” Throughout the film, many thought-provoking moments make us question the human inventions that are supposed to make our lives easier. A striking detail of the movie is its title, in which the letters G, T, A, and C stand for Guanine, Adenine, Thymine, and Cytosine, which are the four nucleobases of the DNA.
Gattaca (1997) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The Not-So-Perfect Son
The film starts with “Gattaca,” a space center that oversees astronomical ventures and research missions. Jerome Morrow, a competent employee at Gattaca, is about to go on a space mission that he is excited about. However, while narrating his story, he reveals that he is not the perfect guy for the mission as he is not Jerome Morrow. The guy is named Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawk), a boy born to his parents naturally without any genetic selection process. In this “not too distant” future, naturally conceived individuals are known as Invalids, who are also prone to genetic disorders. The others created by a selection process are known as Valids, with a lesser chance of any genetic disease. These are deemed healthier than Invalids and are identified by genotype profiling for better jobs.
When Vincent is born, the doctors tell his parents that he has high probability rates of several disorders, including a 99% chance of heart disease. This reduced his life span to 30.2 years. After trying hard to get him treated and failing, they decide to conceive their second child through a genetic selection process. The doctor ensures them that their next child will be perfect, and that comes out to be true. Vincent’s brother Anton Jr. is born to be an ideal child with no health issues. As years pass, it is shown how he grows up faster than his brother and has all his parents’ attention.
Vincent grows distant from his family but often plays a game called “chicken” with his brother in which they both have to keep swimming in the sea before one of them gets scared and turns around towards the shore to be declared loser. Vincent is the one who always loses. Despite being weak in physical activities, Vincent never gives up studying and reading. He dreams of traveling to space one day but is constantly reminded of his weakness, which will never let him pursue a space career. One day, he and Anton are playing chicken, and the unexpected happens. Anton begins to drown and is rescued by Vincent, who drags him to the shore. After that, Vincent realizes he has more potential than he ever thought he had. He leaves his house to follow his dream one way or another.
Jerome Eugene Morrow
Vincent knows that the only chance he will ever get to be close to space travel will be through entering Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. He starts working as a sweeper and gets to clean office spaces, including the offices of Gattaca. When Vincent roams around that place, his dream feels too close and too distant at the same time. No matter how hard he tries to be physically fit or gain knowledge, he can’t suffice for what it takes to be an employee at Gattaca.
One day, he decides to take more extreme measures and calls someone whom he has heard about through people. The guy introduces him to a Valid named Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law), a former swimming star who was now paralyzed after getting hit by a car. He agrees to donate his hair, blood, urine, and skin samples to Vincent to identify him as Valid and ensure recruitment in Gattaca.
Jerome’s samples work, and Vincent ends up getting a job at Gattaca. He also gets to be selected for a mission to go to Titan, Saturn’s fourteenth moon, something he had always dreamed of. To ensure his identity stays hidden, Vincent has to scrub away his genetic material daily and carry Jerome’s urine samples with him. He also carries his blood under a layer of prosthetic skin on his fingers to enter the office daily.
Murder At Gattaca
An administrator is mysteriously killed at Gattaca one week before the launch of Titan. Vincent gets nervous thinking about whether this will affect the mission, but the mission director assures him that it will remain unaffected by the murder and its ongoing investigation. During the investigation, the detective finds an eyelash that is found to belong to an unregistered person who was at the place. Upon hearing about the investigation, Jerome warns Vincent, but he remains nonchalant. As the investigation proceeds, Vincent falls in love with Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman), his colleague, who is unfamiliar with his hidden identity. Vincent finds out that Irene has a heart condition that will restrain her from being part of any special space mission. On the other hand, Jerome discloses how he got self-inflicted after being unable to deal with the second place as he shows him a silver medal.
The investigations proceed, and the detective grows more and more suspicious of Vincent. After barging into a club where he is on a date with Irene, the detectives chase him down, but he ends up escaping with Irene. The samples and traces they collect always prove valid and match Vincent, including the ones they take from the guy Vincent beat that night. The detective finally decides to go to take Vincent’s blood sample.
He approaches Irene and asks her to lead her to Vincent. Vincent, who is indirectly warned by Irene earlier, hides in the office. Irene tells the detective that Vincent (aka Jerome) left since he wasn’t feeling very well. He decides to visit him. Vincent calls Jerome and informs him about their arrival. When Irene and the detective reach his place, Jerome rests on a couch. When he gives his blood sample, it matches Vincent’s face, showing him a Valid and putting Irene in a state of shock.
Gattaca (1997) Movie Ending Explained:
What Happened To Jerome Morrow?
It is revealed that the real murderer was the mission director, who killed the administrator because he threatened to cancel the mission. After that, Vincent finds the detective sitting on his chair. He calls Vincent by his name, telling him that he recognizes him and that he is his brother, Anton. Anton asks Vincent to run away as he has committed fraud, but Vincent tells him that he doesn’t need anyone. The two play the final game of chicken, and Vincent wins. He says that he has won by not saving energy to turn away. Anton begins to drown, but Vincent rescues him and brings him back to the shore.
On the launch day, Jerome tells Vincent that he has saved him enough samples to last him two lifetimes. Vincent asks him where he is going, and he says that he is traveling too. Jerome gives him an envelope to open when Vincent is flying. He says goodbye to Irene. Before entering the rocket, Vincent discovers a final genetic test for which he has no sample. The doctor tells him that his son looks up to him as he is also not all that they promised and lets him leave by changing his result, revealing how he knew about his secret all along. Jerome takes his silver medal with him and incinerates himself while Vincent opens his letter and smiles as he finds a lock of Jerome’s hair.
Why Did Jerome Leave Vincent a Lock of His Hair?
There are multiple interpretations of why Jerome left Vincent a piece of his lock. Throughout the film, Jerome gives Vincent his DNA samples for practical use. But this time, Jerome gives his hair for sentimental value. Jerome puts himself in the incinerator, so all of his body is destroyed except his hair, which he provides to Vincent. Before he leaves, Jerome tells Vincent that he is traveling too. So maybe this was his way of being with him on his journey, as he could never travel to space in real-time. Additionally, a lock of someone’s hair symbolizes remembrance. It is a token of togetherness and signifies connection. Therefore, it may be Jerome’s way of saying goodbye to Vincent by handing him a piece of himself to hold onto and remember him.
Gattaca (1997) Movie Themes Analyzed:
Societal Discrimination
Like any society, social discrimination is found in this on-screen dystopian society. It is based only on genetic codes rather than race, money, or gender. The Valids like Anton, Jerome, and Lamar (the doctor) get the noble professions while the Invalids like Vincent were considered lesser in status as compared to the former. Irene is another character who is discriminated against in her workplace because of her heart condition. Despite being Valid and talented, both Vincent and Irene are held back due to being unfavored by genetics.
Even Jerome, who is Valid and privileged within the society, could not avoid the pressure of expectations. He gives himself a life-long punishment when he secures a second place despite being told he is perfect all his life. Jerome deliberately steps in front of a car, and his legs become dysfunctional. By the end of the movie, he kills himself because there is nothing left for him after Vincent gets to enjoy his dream.
Dreams and Destiny
The story is a powerful reminder of how valuable dreams can be. Through his dedication and struggle to protect his dream, Vincent gets to fly at the end of the movie and travel to space exactly like he dreamed of. It was also his fate that led him to his dream. Despite all the data and predictions, one cannot fight fate. Even though his DNA wasn’t meant to be where he ended up, it was his destiny that raised him high. By the movie’s end, the doctor, Lamar, tells Vincent about his son and how he looks up to him. He does not believe in the promises made by technology. Instead, he relies on hope and fate. Vincent was also less talented and weaker than his brother but ended up saving his life twice, proving how a physical test cannot prove his worth.
The Harms of Technology
Instead of providing a better world, there is so much harm caused by the technological and biological advancements in the movie. The murder in Gattaca is committed due to the threat of the mission’s cancellation. If it weren’t for the genetic code, Vincent would not have stolen someone else’s identity and taken the wrong route to fulfill his dream. The jealousy that remained among the characters throughout the movie was all because of the technological exposure. Vincent grows up envious of his brother. Irene is jealous of Vincent when he gets to go on a mission and gets him cross-checked. Anton meets Vincent after years, finds him at a better rank, and wants to play “chicken” again just to prove that Anton is still better. He even says he lost earlier on purpose, which is not true, and that alludes to how he is jealous of his brother.
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