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What is genetic engineering, after all, but preemptive plastic surgery? Make the child perfect in the test tube, and save money later. Throw in perfect health, a high IQ and a long life-span, and you have the brave new world of “Gattaca,” in which the bioformed have inherited the earth, and babies who are born naturally get to be menial laborers.

This is one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas. Its hero is a man who challenges the system. Vincent ( Ethan Hawke ) was born in the old-fashioned way, and his genetic tests show he has bad eyesight, heart problems and a life expectancy of about 30 years. He is an “In-Valid,” and works as a cleaner in a space center.

Vincent does not accept his fate. He never has. As a child, he had swimming contests with his brother Anton ( Loren Dean ), who has all the right scores but needs to be saved from drowning. Now Vincent dreams of becoming a crew member on an expedition to one of the moons of Saturn. Using an illegal DNA broker, he makes a deal with a man named Jerome ( Jude Law ), who has the right genes but was paralyzed in an accident. Jerome will provide him with blood, urine samples and an identity. In a sense, they'll both go into space. “Gattaca” is the remarkable debut of a writer-director from New Zealand, Andrew Niccol , whose film is intelligent and thrilling--a tricky combination--and also visually exciting. His most important set is a vast office where genetically superior computer programmers come to work every day, filing into their long rows of desks like the office slaves in King Vidor's “The Crowd” and Orson Welles' “The Trial.” (Why are “perfect” human societies so often depicted by ranks of automatons? Is it because human nature resides in our flaws?) Vincent, as “Jerome,” gets a job as a programmer, supplies false genetic samples and becomes a finalist for the space shot.

The tension comes in two ways. First, there's the danger that Vincent will be detected; the area is swept daily, and even an eyelash can betray him. Second, there's a murder; a director of the center, who questions the wisdom of the upcoming shot, is found dead, and a detective ( Alan Arkin ) starts combing the personnel for suspects. Will a computer search sooner or later put together Vincent, the former janitor, with “Jerome,” the new programmer? Vincent becomes friendly with Irene ( Uma Thurman ), who works in the center but has been passed over for a space shot because of low scores in some areas. They are attracted to one another, but romance in this world can be dangerous; after kissing a man, a woman is likely to have his saliva swabbed from her mouth so she can test his prospects. Other supporting characters include Gore Vidal , as a mission supervisor, and Tony Shalhoub as the broker (“You could go anywhere with this guy's helix under your arm”).

Hawke is a good choice for the lead, combining the restless dreams of a “Godchild” with the plausible exterior of a lab baby. The best scenes involve his relationship with the real Jerome, played by Law as smart, bitter, and delighted to be sticking it to the system that has grounded him. (He may be paralyzed from the waist down, but after all, as the movie observes, you don't need to walk in space.) His drama parallels Vincent's, because if either one is caught they'll both go down together.

Science fiction in the movies has recently specialized in alien invasions, but the best of the genre deals with ideas. At a time when we read about cloned sheep and tomatoes crossed with fish, the science in “Gattaca” is theoretically possible. When parents can order “perfect” babies, will they? Would you take your chances on a throw of the genetic dice, or order up the make and model you wanted? How many people are prepared to buy a car at random from the universe of all available cars? That's how many, I suspect, would opt to have natural children.

Everybody will live longer, look better and be healthier in the Gattacan world. But will it be as much fun? Will parents order children who are rebellious, ungainly, eccentric, creative, or a lot smarter than their parents are? There's a concert pianist in “Gattaca” who has 12 fingers. Don't you sometimes have the feeling you were born just in time?

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Gattaca (1997)

Rated PG-13 For Brief Violent Images, Language and Some Sexuality

112 minutes

Ethan Hawke as Vincent/Jerome

Uma Thurman as Irene

Jude Law as Jerome/Eugene

Alan Arkin as Detective Hugo

Loren Dean as Anton

Gore Vidal as Director Josef

Written and Directed by

• Andrew Niccol

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Social Issues in “Gattaca” by Andrew Niccoland Essay

Introduction, family violence, social class, socialization, societal conflict.

Gattaca is an American science fiction movie that was produced in 1997, focusing on eugenics where reproduction is done by customization of genes in order to produce offsprings with the most favorable characteristics or traits derived from their parents. The movie is directed by Andrew Niccoland the theme revolves around Ethan Hawke who is born with genetic disorders and struggles to overcome genetic discrimination so that he can realize his dream of flying to space (Pope and McRoberts, 2003). This paper will discuss social issues illustrated in the movie including family violence, social class, socialization, and societal conflict.

Family violence is witnessed between two brothers, Vincent and Anton, who were born with different genetic makeup. In the movie, for example, rivalry emerges between the two brothers when playing their favorite game “chicken” where Anton would always emerge as the winner. The reason for this violence is that Vincent was born with natural genetic makeup, where it showed that he possessed high chances of acquiring several disorders and his lifespan would be 30 years. On the other hand, Anton had superior genetic makeup and would always emerge as the favorite in most activities.This kind of violence is a result of differences in performance in various activities, which always result in jealous and bitterness. It always lowers the self-esteem of an individual for he sees himself as inferior (Hughes 2004).

In the movie, another family rivalry is witnessed in the case where Vincent was the main suspect in the killing of an administrator; and when Anton offered to help, Vincent asked him to stay away from his issues. This was due to different achievements in life between the two brothers, where Vincent felt he was more superior to his brother, therefore disregarding his support. Due to the persistent struggle that Vincent underwent to reach where he was, he felt anger that his brother had not undergone the same process but had achieved a lot in life too.

Different social classes are witnessed in the movie where a genetic registry database was used to classify people into two groups; those people conceived through natural means and were volatile to genetic disorders, and those conceived through genetic alternation. Here, people who were conceived through genetic alteration performed better than the ones conceived through natural means. In addition, the former were given better jobs and were viewed as professionals unlike their counterparts who were viewed as unable to perform. The disparities in social classes cause people never to realize their dream jobs in life, which causes social vices such as murder, rape, theft and other evil deeds. Others will go any extent to make sure they achieve their dream careers in the societies even if it means dying in the process. This shows how social pressure is pushing people to use genetics in order to enhance their identity and achievements (Bunton and Petersen, 2005).

In the movie, various instances of socializations have been witnessed. For instance, Vincent met a co-worker called Irene Cassini in the investigation of the murder of an administrator where he befriended her so that she could help him in the investigation process where he was the main suspect. He later discovered that she had been born through genetic alteration but possessed high chances of acquiring heart attack. Another example is evident where Vincent becomes Jerome’s friend for quite sometime because he wanted samples of genetic makeup from him. This had helped him a lot to achieve his dream by being employed in the company as well as taking part in the mission. However, betrayal in their friendship is witnessed when Jerome promised to give Vincent his DNA sample, but gives him an envelope with only a strand of his hair instead. This illustrates that genuine relationships always lead to successful lives whereas deceptive interactions lead to pain and regret.

The issue of conflicts in society is portrayed in various parts of the movie. This was illustrated when one ofthe company’s administrators was murdered one week before the scheduled trip. This incident shows conflict as a result of power greed among various employees in the in the company. When employees are in harmony with each other, many issues concerning conflict could be completely eliminated, making the company grow fast.

Another example in the movie involved Jerome who had unsuccessfully tried to kill himself because he had emerged second in a swimming competition. The incident shows how individuals in the society are dissatisfied with their achievements. Individuals should appreciate their own efforts to enable them attain higher goals. Later on, Jerome decides to burn himself up due to depression. The society should be able to provide support and help to people undergoing physical and psychological difficulties so that they can accept the consequences of their actions in life (Perkowitz, 2013).

The movie Gattaca demonstrates the extent to which society goes in trying to enhance its identity and hereditary traits through genetic manipulation. In addition, several social issues are illustrated including social conflict, social class, and family violence.

Bunton, Robin and Alan Petersen. 2005. Genetic Governance: Health, Risk and Ethics in a Biotech Era . NY: Routledge.

Hughes, James. 2004. Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future. MA: Westview Press.

Perkowitz, Seiler. 2013. Hollywood Science: Movies, Science, and the End of the World. NY: Columbia University Press.

Pope, Marcia and Richard McRoberts. 2003. Cambridge Wizard Student Guide Gattaca. Cambridge: Cambridge University press.

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IvyPanda. (2020, August 23). Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-issues-in-gattaca-by-andrew-niccoland/

"Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland." IvyPanda , 23 Aug. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/social-issues-in-gattaca-by-andrew-niccoland/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland'. 23 August.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland." August 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-issues-in-gattaca-by-andrew-niccoland/.

1. IvyPanda . "Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland." August 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-issues-in-gattaca-by-andrew-niccoland/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Social Issues in "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccoland." August 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-issues-in-gattaca-by-andrew-niccoland/.

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• Published: 24 November 2022

GATTACA is still pertinent 25 years later

• Dov Greenbaum   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4440-3090 1 , 2 , 3 &
• Mark Gerstein   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9746-3719 3 , 4 , 5  

Nature Genetics volume  54 ,  pages 1758–1760 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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It has been 25 years since the release of GATTACA , a film that tells the story of a credible near future in which society’s inequalities, formerly associated with race and class, have been replaced with new prejudices based on genetic determinism. Here we compare GATTACA ’s fictional technologies with reality’s state of the art, assessing the legal protections afforded in today’s society against GATTACA ’s dystopian future in which personal freedom and privacy rights are substantially curtailed by genomic innovations. We further discuss how GATTACA ’s prescient forewarnings are still relevant today in light of the current trajectory of genomic science and technology.

GATTACA , a film directed by Andrew Niccol, was released 25 years ago, only a couple of years before the June 2000 announcement of the first working draft sequence of the human genome at the White House Rose Garden. Similarly auspiciously, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey was released a year shy of Apollo 11’s landing in the Sea of Tranquility on the moon.

Notably, the world presented in Kubrick’s films and books, with regular human space travel to and beyond Jupiter, is still completely removed from current technological capabilities. The notion of human travel to Jupiter now seems even further in the future than it did then, especially with the US national space program languishing in anachronistic technologies. Even the new Artemis Space Launch System, per US Congress dictate, is obliged to use space-shuttle-derived components dating back almost 40 years 1 . December 2022 marks half a century since humankind last stepped on the moon, and it will be perhaps decades more until astronauts are systematically traveling to Mars or orbiting Jupiter.

Compare that to the genetics-centric world GATTACA imagines. The film’s technologies, pervasive notion of surveillance, and concomitant privacy issues seem prescient. Since the movie came out, science has produced rapid, accurate and cheap genome sequencing, genome-wide association studies, and precision genetic manipulation tools such as synthetic biology and CRISPR. Arguably, in the United States, much of this state of the art can be attributed to vast investments by the biotechnology industry, the profit margins that entice them, and extensive support by the government for both public genomic endeavors and private ones 2 . In contrast, although innovative, the privately funded billionaire space-exploration class is still in its nascent phase, conceivably driven more by vanity than by profits 3 .

Given that advancements in genetics continue to approximate and perhaps even supersede the innovations of the film, GATTACA remains a relevant touchstone — 25 years later — in discussions related to the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics and bioengineering for scientists, policymakers 4 , 5 and the lay public 6 . The film continues to be a valuable feature of genetics and bioethics syllabi in academia.

In brief, GATTACA tells of a dystopian future in which class divisions seem to be based merely on the degree of prenatal genetic manipulation, reminiscent of the caste system in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World . ‘Valids’ are virtually guaranteed the best opportunities, given their perceived genetic superiority, whereas genetically unmodified ‘In-Valids’ are second-class citizens, or worse. Ethan Hawke’s character Vincent was conceived without any medical intervention. Although in another era he would have been considered a “perfectly healthy, normal baby,” in Niccol’s not-too-distant-future, to his detriment, his “destiny was mapped out…[all his] flaws, predispositions and susceptibilities [including] the date and cause of…death.”

Not content to be constrained by these social norms and determined to be an astronaut at the eponymous GATTACA Aerospace Corporation, Vincent becomes a ‘borrowed ladder’, buying access to the DNA of Jerome (played by Jude Law), a disabled Valid who can no longer use his genetic enhancements to become a world-class athlete.

We watch as Vincent seemingly successfully conceals his true genetic identity through a daily purging of all his shed DNA and the planting of Jerome’s DNA — that is, until a genetically identifiable wayward eyelash, which suggests that its In-Valid owner must be the murderer of a GATTACA director, threatens to upend his deception. Suspense follows as Vincent must evade exposure and capture by an inexplicably dogged and relentless police investigator. Ultimately, a Valid, Director Josef (played by Gore Vidal), is identified as the murderer, and the film closes with Vincent fulfilling his dream, blasting off toward the Saturnian moon Titan; granted, this part of Niccol’s vision of the future, like Kubrick’s, is not yet a reality.

GATTACA and pop culture stories like it are, for better or for worse, some of the main sources of society’s conventional science wisdom 7 . Consider the paradigmatic fictional foundation of the public’s apprehension of innovative science: Frankenstein . The story portrayed in books and film is so enmeshed in social consciousness that for many it symbolizes their visceral distrust of many advanced technologies, including genetics 8 — hence the continued abuse of the prefix ‘Franken-’ 9 .

Like Frankenstein , GATTACA universalizes the fears and potential dangers of science run amok, although not necessarily of the science of genetics per se, but rather of its unregulated exploitation. More than Frankenstein and its fictional ‘reanimation technology’, GATTACA makes its feasible science and the concerns it raises approachable, contextualizable and, ultimately, understandable. GATTACA not only allows the public to comprehend the context of genetic technologies within society but also provides the tools with which to appreciate the actual legal, ethical and social importance of the issues raised. And like Frankenstein , the film portrays how the public sees scientists in the genetics field, an invaluable understanding for researchers aiming to be ethical and socially conscious.

GATTACA can also be appreciated as a retelling of the Frankenstein story, wherein man’s efforts to use science to rise above nature’s limitations always disappoint. To wit, throughout the film, it is the genetically optimized Valids who are shown to be physically and mentally flawed, despite the best medical efforts. In contrast, Vincent, the unaltered In-Valid, succeeds despite his perceived genetic limitations. Perhaps this best represents the filmmakers’ rejection of genetic determinism, still a critical concern a quarter of a century later, as research continues to reveal how the complex synthesis of nature and nurture coalesce to make humans who we are.

Through the lens of genetic exceptionalism, society often envisions genetic predictions as infallibly deterministic. Consider the demand for direct-to-consumer genomic technologies and the foresight consumers believe it will bring. In reality, much of genetics is inherently messy owing to, among other things, the complexity of polygenic risk profiles, especially in light of unknowable environmental considerations.

The movie’s warnings against allowing these statistical likelihoods to become self-fulfilling prophecies remain apropos. This is especially true for the increasingly pervasive ‘walking sick’ — those who underestimate their disease probabilities — and the ‘worried well’ (or, as the film refers to them, the ‘healthy ill’) — those who overestimate their statistical predispositions to future genetic conditions. Arguably, geneticists in their professional capacities can also sometimes seem to view genetic information as too deterministic. Even scientists can fail to fully appreciate the inexactness of many genetic predispositions, given penetrance, expressivity and external environmental factors that modulate the genetic information.

The film also portrays a more ominous aspect of genetic determinism. Offscreen, we learn of Jerome’s attempted suicide after he fails to live up to his parents’ predetermined genetic aspirations of gold medals. In the final scenes, he ultimately commits suicide; as a paraplegic, he can no longer achieve his preprogrammed genetic objectives, and his life now lacks its presumed purpose.

Sequencing services that promise to ascertain a young child’s future abilities could potentially wreak similar mental havoc on children and their parents. Vulnerable people may even feel compelled to live up to the predictions of the often scientifically suspect genetic predispositions imposed on them by recreational direct-to-consumer genetic services 10 .

Even more nefarious than foisting a forecasted future on a young child through still-inaccurate genetic predictions is the possibility of parents choosing an embryo through preimplantation genetic diagnoses not because that embryo lacks a detrimental genetic condition, but instead to select a particular condition, whether that condition is an enhancement or, unfortunately, even a disease condition 11 .

Consider the example in GATTACA : In a musical sound bridge, Niccol takes us through scenes of various instances of egregious police abuse of In-Valids, contrasted with a piano recital by an enhanced musician playing Schubert’s Impromptus (with added chords for additional complexity). We are left to assume that the pianist’s parents prenatally picked an embryo to produce a polydactyl prodigy. Although their progeny lives up to their aspirations, he hides his face with his 12 fingers in his promotional posters, perhaps presaging the anguish he is likely to feel later in life.

These instances of police-based genetic discrimination in the film are one of at least two dystopian societal abuses of genetic information in GATTACA ’s envisioned future. Viewers watch as the police use knowledge about a person’s genetic predispositions to justify discrimination, whether surreptitiously or overtly. Although current genomic technology allows science to determine much about a person, debatably even anti-social and aggressive behaviors 12 , from genome sequencing, the state of the art does not carry the same evidential weight as it does in the film 13 . However, as more understanding of the science is gained, this fundamentally unjust use of genetic knowledge remains a concern. And like in the film, in which “it’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of genetics…but no one takes the laws seriously,” in the real world, many laws against genetic discrimination often contain too many loopholes to be effective.

The American 2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), a product of years of legislative negotiations, attempted to create a federal minimum level of protection of genetic information despite the reported lack of finding of widespread and ongoing genetic discrimination in the workforce so endemic in the film 14 , 15 . According to GINA, actionable discrimination is limited to some instances within employment and health insurance contexts. Many states have subsequently expanded the protections granted by GINA to include broader safeguards against other discrimination in the workforce or during the procurement of various types of insurance 16 .

However, it is not only the areas of employment and insurance in which there is the potential for abuse of genetic information. In the film, the police seem to test the DNA of citizens with impunity. Even a civilian such as Irene (played by Uma Thurman), Vincent’s love interest, easily obtains and sequences Vincent’s DNA to assess his genomic information. Although the US Supreme Court has allowed the collection of genetic information in the course of police work, such as arrests 17 , society remains unsettled by the potential genetic panopticon that could follow from unfettered access of the police, and others, to genomic information.

This relates to a second dystopian characteristic of the film: genetic privacy. The notion of tracking people through their DNA has long been a reality — the use of DNA fingerprinting for pursuing criminals has been commonplace for decades. The exposé and conviction of the Golden State Killer showed how even recreational genetic genealogy has become entangled in genetic surveillance 18 . However, real-life privacy concerns are potentially even bleaker than those sketched out in the film. Consider the potential for sequencing genomes as an offensive tactic: recently, heads of state visiting President Putin refused coronavirus testing, as sequenced non-viral genomic material would ‘de-protect’ their genomes 19 . There are even worries that after the COVID-19 pandemic, border-based PCR testing centers could easily be repurposed to seek out other genetic information from incoming travelers, including targeting of people with potentially undesirable genetic conditions or predispositions. Genetic data can also be integrated with other revealing big data, such as web searches, facial recognition or phone geo-location, creating privacy leaks not evident when each data type is considered separately, which would create a future even more problematic than GATTACA ’s.

In light of the continual encroachment of genetic surveillance on privacy, there is a growing dissatisfaction with the government’s use of genetic information. In particular, this past spring, a class action lawsuit was filed against the New York City Police Department for hosting a genetic database comprising samples from thousands of people who live in New York 20 . According to the lawsuit, DNA was surreptitiously collected, without consent, from gum, drinks and cigarettes offered to those in police custody, including minors, regardless of their eventual guilt, and principally from minority communities 21 . Problematically, the New York City Police Department’s database lacks the regulatory oversight of state and federal DNA databases. A similar lawsuit was filed in Orange County, California, the year before, about an even larger DNA database of the County District Attorney’s Office 22 .

In addition to the fears of potential discrimination and abuse by the justice system, genetic privacy remains an important component in the oversight of research involving human participants. And with science vastly outpacing legal controls, it is best to rely on self-regulation and technological tools to protect the privacy of millions worldwide who have been included in research databases. These protections relate both to privacy-enhancing technical tools for recording and aggregating data, and to the use of blockchain technology 23 and cyberbiosecurity methods for hardening the databases themselves 24 .

There are many positive uses for genetic information, such as when genetic information is medically actionable. Although the film never preaches against the overall validity of genetic information, or its many legitimate uses, it makes viewers think about the extent to which society should employ the technology in healthcare and even within the criminal justice system. GATTACA , however, warns of the very slippery slope: “What began as a means to rid society of inheritable diseases has become a way to design your offspring — the line between health and enhancement blurred forever.”

Consider the description of the genetic engineering of Vincent’s younger brother, Anton (played by Loren Dean). He is designed and born a Valid lacking “prejudicial conditions [such as] premature baldness, myopia, alcoholism and addictive susceptibility, propensity for violence and obesity.” Here GATTACA cautions against eugenic attempts to wipe out various non-lethal and/or cosmetic genetic conditions that are part of our diverse society.

In an early version of the script, the film closes with “a succession of portraits and photographs of renowned and historic figures…list[ing] their [genetic] affliction rather than their accomplishments.” 25 Today, communities representing genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, argue that prenatal genetic tests designed to identify affected fetuses with the intent of abortion are an insidious form of eugenics that prevents the birth of potentially prized members of society. Whether one agrees or disagrees, GATTACA suggests that if these newfound genetic information and tools are not used wisely, humanity could end up discarding some of the most valued among us in the drive toward genetic perfection.

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Greenbaum, D., Gerstein, M. GATTACA is still pertinent 25 years later. Nat Genet 54 , 1758–1760 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01242-5

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Essay on the Movie "Gattaca"

Illustration elements, illustration éléments.

Students watched the science fiction film "Gattaca" after studying genetics. The film's title is based on the first letters of  guanine ,  adenine ,  thymine , and  cytosine , the four  nucleobases  of  DNA . This student wrote an essay in response.

Illustration

Teacher reflection.

He found the movie very interesting as it provided him with a different perspective on what he had learned in class. His essay describes how he felt the movie portrayed discrimination and prejudice in the futuristic society of Gattaca. He defended his analysis by using examples from the movie. He reported that he enjoyed writing this essay and that he did not find it hard to put his thoughts down on paper because he found the ideas in the movie interesting to comment on.

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• GATTACA Essay (PDF)

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Blade Runner by Ridley Scott

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Published: Oct 2, 2018

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by Andrew Niccol

Gattaca quotes and analysis.

"Jerome had been engineered with everything he needed to get into Gattaca, except the desire to do so" Vincent, narrating

This quote exemplifies how the society is built in such a way that success can only be achieved by the genetically superior. Jerome is genetically engineered, automatically granting him the title 'valid'. However, this is, ironically, not enough to ensure his success. This is because valids such as Jerome, who are guaranteed success, typically lack the desire, drive and purpose from overcoming obstacles. In this way, the quote shows how the society in Gattaca is not ideal, as it discriminates against those who are born naturally and removes purpose from the lives of the elite.

"Eugene suffered under a different burden - the burden of perfection." Vincent, narrating

This quote illustrates the Dystopian nature of the society in Gattaca . Even those who are guaranteed success inevitably suffer. The juxtaposition between the idealistic connotations of "perfection" and the repetition of "burden" illustrates that no one really benefits from a society where self worth is measured by one's genes.

"This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything from the swim back." Vincent to Anton, during his second flashback

This statement is how Vincent explains he was able to beat his genetically superior brother in a swimming contest. This quote is a testament to human will power, drive and the human spirit. It is at this moment when Vincent becomes aware of his untapped potential and decides to follow his dream of becoming an astronaut, against all odds. Hence, the quote celebrates humanity's ability to strive for greatness.

"For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess I'm suddenly having a hard time leaving it. Of course, they say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star. Maybe I'm not leaving... maybe I'm going home." Vincent, narrating: final scene

This quote captures the film's focus on science and adventure. Here, Vincent speaks optimistically of his decision to explore the stars. He attributes leaving earth with "going home" in a more real sense, drawing on the scientific ideas that humans are made of stardust. This quote illustrates Vincent's fear at leaving the familiar world behind, but his optimism and expectation outweigh this fear. This crucial quote represents everything that Vincent has achieved and all the obstacles he has overcome, which have enabled him to live his childhood dream and challenge the very nature of his society.

"I'll never understand what possessed my mother to put her faith in God's hands, rather than her local geneticist." Vincent, narrating: first flashback to his childhood years

This quote illustrates the lack of humanity in the futuristic society, as well as its clinical and sterile approach to establishing a family. The quote usurps contemporary notions of parenthood, by presenting offspring as the product of scientific intervention, rather than the result of love and intimacy. The quote is ironic as it states that it is better to put faith towards science than God, echoing the focus on science and genetic superiority in Gattaca .

"Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the poduim." Jerome, reflecting on his failures

This quote emphasises how Jerome felt 'cheated' by the societal system. Genetically engineered to be an elite athlete, he was guaranteed athletic success, but ended up coming second place in a swimming competition. The third person quote illustrates Jerome's disdain towards himself, as he is highly critical of his failure and distances himself from society's expectations. The high modality of 'never' also indicates the flaw in the reliance on eugenics as a measure of potential, as Jerome's failure challenged the foundational assumptions of the society.

"There is no gene for the human spirit" 'Gattaca's' tagline

This line cleverly conveys the overarching message of the film - that a person's self worth cannot be measured by their genes. This emphasizes an appraisal of determination, passion and drive as far superior to genetic standing. It echoes the major theme of the film: the importance of humanity and the human spirit.

"Consider God's handiwork; who can straighten what He hath made crooked?" - Ecclesiastes 7:13 Title card

This biblical allusion at the beginning of the film introduces vital ideas regarding man's place in the world. The passage from Ecclesiastes 7:13 praises God as ultimate creator. This idea is usurped throughout the film when humans take on the role of god, altering a persons' genes to create an idealized society. This quote immediately encourages us to critique the society in Gattaca .

"Eugene never suffered from the routine discrimination of a 'utero', a 'faith birth' or an 'invalid' as we were called... He suffered under a different burden: the burden of perfection." Vincent

If you are told you are perfect, what is there to aspire to? Jerome is an unhappy example of a man given everything. Everything was expected of him, everything should have been possible. And yet, if that is so, what is there to enjoy or savour? Jerome should have been able to succeed at whatever he wanted to, even without much effort, so strong is his genetic makeup. It is interesting that when Vincent goes on his mission, Jerome kills himself. It is as though he was fueled during the film by Vincent's passion and determination. He enjoyed the challenge of it. Unchallenged as he surely must have been with his genetic disposition, there may well have been much to fight for. Coming second in the swimming championships devastates him because for the first time he realizes he is not perfect. Perfection is a blessing and a curse: something that everyone aspires to and that, once achieved, kills the desire that feeds aspiration.

"They've got you looking so hard for any flaw that after a while that's all you see" Vincent to Irene 1.26.22

This film is interested in what we choose to notice. In society in Gattaca the minutest molecule is the most significant: DNA. So focused is this society on this detail, and on what it means, that they fail to zoom the camera out to see the whole person. Here Vincent explains to Irene how she has been conned. All she can see are the flaws in a person's DNA; what he urges her to do is see the bigger picture. He wants her to see that what he has done is possible and that others could do the same. It is interesting that Vincent, having been contained and restricted for so long by his genetic makeup, should aspire to travel to space. There the camera must zoom out to take in the enormity of the planets and the universe and from there Vincent may also get some space from the tight restrictions of life on Earth.

Gattaca Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Gattaca is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is genoism?

The term genoism was coined by Andrew Niccol, director and writer of the 1997 film Gattaca, in which it was used to describe unethical and illegal genetic discrimination.

There is the love afair scene between Irene and Jerome. I won't describe that! There is the final scene when Jerome gives us the narrative about how he feels in his rocket.

The complete sequence of every individual’s genome should be made available to the public.

If this question requires you to state your opinion, there is no right or wrong answer.

Study Guide for Gattaca

Gattaca study guide contains a biography of director Andrew Niccol, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Gattaca
• Gattaca Summary
• Character List
• Director's Influence

Essays for Gattaca

Gattaca essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Gattaca by director Andrew Niccol.

• What warnings about the future does Niccol intend his audience to gain after viewing his movie?
• Comparitive Analysis of Power and Control in Equus and Gattaca
• Auteur Theory of Andrew Niccol: Analyzing Gattaca and In Time
• The Effect of Context on Characters' Perseverance and Determination: Comparing 'Ender's Game' and 'Gattaca'
• Challenging the Idea of Humanity

Wikipedia Entries for Gattaca

• Introduction
• Music and soundtrack