Themes and Discussion

Themes in Gattaca Destiny vs. free will The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation Systemic discrimination

Names in Gattaca Jerome = Genome (Genetic material) Morrow = i.e. as in tomorrow (of the future) “Eugene” = comes from Greek, which means “well born” Eugenics – Science of improving the hereditary qualities of a race or breed. Gattaca = GTCA, symbols for four main chemicals in DNA. Irene Cassini – the Cassini division is the largest gap in Saturn’s rings

Destiny vs. free will Gattaca shows us that our destiny cannot be mapped out using our genetic code. Our free will and our determination are what ultimately determine the path our life will take. Do you agree or disagree?

Destiny vs. free will Characters who embody this theme are: Vincent Irene Anton Any others?

Destiny vs. free will Key scenes: Vincent’s ‘destiny’ is mapped out at the moment of his birth Vincent beats Anton in the chicken race (twice) Vincent tells Irene he is a borrowed ladder Any others?

Destiny vs. free will Useful quotes: ‘There is no gene for the human spirit.’ ‘This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.’ ‘No one exceeds their potential.’

The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation Gattaca shows us a world in which the pace of scientific discovery has been left unchecked by moral and ethical debate. Under the clean society, is a dark world deteriorating under the simple fact of genetic purity and lack of individuality.

The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation The motifs of the fingernails, urine tests, blood tests and hair samples symbolise a world obsessed with genetic purity.

The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation Key scenes: Vincent goes for a job interview but fails the urine test Vincent, with Jerome’s borrowed genes, goes for another interview and gets the job. Any others?

The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation Useful quotes: ‘I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.’ ‘Nobody takes the law seriously.’ ‘They used to say that a child conceived in love has a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore.’

What are the dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation? What is Andrew Niccol’s opinion?

How can science be controlled? If morality prevails, and ethics controls the use of science and not just science’s direction or speed, then genetic engineering can be used for the benefit of mankind. Science in itself is not evil, but it the way it is used can be either beneficial or harmful. Scientific discoveries needs to be guided by ethical concerns, rather than just making advances.

Systemic discrimination Gattaca is set in a future where science, and not religion, has taken over society. A new form of discrimination has arisen, called GENOISM: discrimination according to one’s genetic code. What are three examples of genoism in Gattaca?

The World of Gattaca is Dystopic How is Gattaca a dystopia? It could be a utopian world: most people are engineered to be born with little or no disabilities. But it is a dystopia. It is a perfect world, but only perfect for those who are genetically gifted. Lack of individuality.

Gattaca is Dystopic and Oppressive Numerous identity checks. Police and detectives all uniformed in grey trenchcoats and bring up memories of dark secret police organisations (e.g. SS in the Nazi regime) Buildings are large, bare and artificial and huge compared to individual. Surfaces of the world are polished clean and shiny, and almost sterile.

Gattaca is Dystopic and Oppressive It is a picture of a world ruled by science. Tiny individual vs. monster engine of society. Nearly everyone is accepting and passive of their place in society.

Visual metaphors which show discrimination Motifs (repeated symbols) of glass and water, which illustrate the invisible walls Vincent is rebelling against. Where do we see glass and water in the film? E.g. Vincent looking through the glass of Gattaca as a janitor. The swimming scenes and Anton as a symbol of the society who rejects Vincent. Bars are a metaphor for the visible barriers (find three examples in the film)

Useful quotes • "We used to think our future was in the stars. Now we know it is in our genes." — James Watson, Nobel Prize Winner and developer of the Human Genome Project Andrew Niccol… • on Gattaca's theme: "I would hate for anyone to look at my film and think it is advocating that you never tamper with genes, because there have been and will be many positive things to come out of this kind of science in terms of curing diseases. But the problem is that blurred line between health and enhancement. How far do you go? Do you consider short-sightedness a disease? Premature balding? Crooked teeth? Where do you draw the line?"

• on Irene's character: "I think of Irene as somebody who would lie down and die at the allotted minute because she would feel guilty if she lived a minute longer than her profile proscribed. Uma had an excellent take on how to play her. Instead of being pitiful, she plays Irene as a woman who is very definite about her shortcomings, who is very firm in her belief in her fatalities."

• Jude Law: "I was fascinated not only with the world that Andrew created but also with the characters and their loneliness. The primary forces running this world are prejudice, judgment and a very subtle form of dictatorship. It plays on the simple paranoias that humans have- that they are not as good or successful as the next person or that their child is not the most perfect child of all time. Andrew creates this very manicured world in which human feelings are trying to burst out, in which the quest to make a better society has destroyed individuality."

• Ernest Borgnine: "One of the things I like most about this story is that it is really about how we treat fellow man. God knows we've seen discrimination in our world and unfortunately we seem to have forgotten how to love one another. Will we learn to treat one another kindly no matter a person's skin or beliefs or genetics, or will we find new ways to discriminate?"