“Gattaca” – an Imperfect Planet [Review]
Title: “Gattaca”
Release Date: 1997
Director: Andrew Niccol
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law and others
“Maybe it was the love of the planets. Maybe it was my growing dislike for this one, but for as long as I can remember I had dreamed of going into space” says the protagonist of the dystopian film “Gattaca”. Andrew Niccol’s film is a pessimistic tale of a future in which DNA predetermines a person’s place on the social ladder. This dark vision of shaping the world through eugenics is not coincidentally reminiscent of all the experiments in social engineering practiced throughout human history, foremost among them Nazism. There will always be those on planet Earth who dream of organizing the world on totalitarian principles, using every possible tool at their disposal, including the authority of science.
“Gattaca” – Andrew Niccol’s science fiction dystopia
Andrew Niccol is a New Zealand director who did not immediately reach the heights of Hollywood. Although he wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-winning The Truman Show (1998), he did not get the chance to stand behind the camera. It was “Gattaca” that proved how skilled he is at making films. He came up with the whole story himself and then brought it to the screen. The movie is set in the future, in a country that has made great progress thanks to genetics. This has led to major changes in the social system: thanks to detailed analysis of DNA code, it is now possible to determine all the characteristics of a newborn child. A person’s fate is predetermined: their IQ, height, diseases, and even life expectancy can be read on a monitor. People therefore want their offspring to be as perfect as possible and have replaced natural methods of conception with selective genotype shaping.
And so we learn the story of the two Freeman brothers: Vincent (Ethan Hawke), conceived out of love, and Anton (Loren Dean), “perfected” by modern in vitro methods. The former, despite constantly proving his talents, is condemned to a life at the bottom of the social ladder. According to the algorithm, his genotype is imperfect and he is assessed as unsuitable for professions requiring intelligence and good physical condition. However, the clever Vincent refuses to accept his predetermined fate and intends to fulfill his dreams. He wants to take part in interplanetary flight, so he uses illegal methods to create a new identity.
In exchange for a large sum of money, Jerome (Jude Law), a paralyzed swimmer, gives him his data along with blood and urine samples, which will allow the protagonist to cheat the system. One day, however, a murder takes place at the space flight institute, and a detective arrives on the scene. The vigilant law enforcement officer quickly begins to suspect that there is someone among the employees who is only pretending to be a VALID person.
“Gattaca” – a brilliantly made film starring Hollywood stars
“Gattaca” is a movie refined down to the smallest detail. Not only the screenplay and direction deserve attention, but also the excellent cinematography by Sławomir Idziak and the beautiful music by Michael Nyman. The claustrophobic space of closed rooms, offices, and apartments reflects the main character’s sense of imprisonment and his desire to regain his freedom. The few scenes set outdoors are shot in low light or at night, which also builds an atmosphere of danger. The shots of blood donation, test tube preparation, and testing emphasize the excessive medicalization of everyday life. The lyrical and solemn music evokes a longing for another, more perfect world, where love, rather than scientific algorithms, plays the leading role.
A galaxy of great actors builds vivid characters. Ethan Hawke perfectly portrays the dual nature of his character: both a sensitive dreamer and a cool, brilliant mind. Jude Law excels as a failed athlete who has lost his will to live, but not his altruism and ability to sacrifice himself for a friend. Uma Thurman captivates with her delicate beauty and romantic enchantment.
“Gattaca” – a pessimistic vision of planet Earth
Like any dystopia, “Gattaca” warns against the distortion of various trends existing in the present day. It shows how knowledge can turn into a tool of repression. One can see here an affinity with Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” but also with the thoughts of Michel Foucault, especially his reflections on medicine as a discourse of power.
However we analyze “Gattaca”, it is above all a sad film. The final victory of the protagonist, who managed to deceive the system, can hardly be considered a triumph. It turns out that overcoming one’s limitations, perseverance, interpersonal relationships, and love can work wonders, but ultimately, a just order can only be found outside Earth. The fundamental question posed at the beginning of the film therefore remains unanswered: is the protagonist driven by love for other planets or rather by a desire to escape from the one that hurts its inhabitants so much?