Following the film-
Genre: Science fiction, what are other films in this genre that deal with space
and technology? Crime fiction, what are other films in this genre that provide
similar images of detectives and whodunit?
The double plot mirrors the double helix of which the film revolves.
1. What is the science fiction plot/storyline?
2. What is the crime fiction plot/storyline?
It is not just plot that determines a genre. One must also consider the use and
effect of setting and style within the film.
Setting:
1. What are the different settings?
2. What are some of the features?
– “The not too distant future”
- Still recognizable as the present world
- Electric cars
- DNA testing
- Blood samples to gain entry and identification
. Gattaca Space Station
-Civic Centre built in California 1950
- Cold and sterile
_ hard, shiny surfaces
- Devoid of colour and trees
. Jerome’s apartment
- Spiral staircase, represents DNA double helix
- Laboratory benches and refrigerators
- Muted dark colours
- Lacking personal possessions
Ocean
- Swimming scenes, challenge
- Nature
- Seaweed
- Stars
- Vincent’s faith conception
Cavendish Club
- Relaxed
- Glitzy
- Dancing/music/dining
Style: Science fiction and Crime fiction
- Rockets taking off
- Mission to Titan
- Costuming and furnishings (Cars) 50’s classic-retro
- Gattaca employees and surroundings, mute colours and identical
classic style. Blue suits
- Detectives, hats and overcoats to fit with 50’s detective costuming.
3. What purpose or effect does each of the settings (& maybe style) have on
the story?
PLOT:
What is the central story line? “One mans struggle to rise up against the odds and
beat the system to achieve his dream”.
This individual quest is embedded in 4 different stories:
CRIME STORY
. Criminal Actions
- Murder
- Falsifying data
- Concealment
- Black marketing
Provide specific examples from the film.
. Detectives
- Reference to “Feds”, “Hoovers”, “J. Edgars”, harks back to gangster
films of 1940’s – 1950’s
. American style investigation
- Attention to detail arrives at correct homicide culprit who is not
the chief suspect.
LOVE STORY- The thread of a love story runs through the film in two distinct
strands. (Another double helix pattern)
1. Vincent and Irene
- What attracts them to each other?
- Why do they come into each other’s life?
2. Vincent and Eugene
– What sort of relationship do they have?
– How are they bonded
– What does each take from the other
– Does the merging of the two to create Jerome achieve the
ultimate ‘valid’? Explain.
HERO STORY
From childhood discouragement to Astor-Navigator
The classic ‘Ugly duckling’ tale and the American hero myth. Rising
against all odds to be a winner.
Hero qualities-persistence, vision, essential honesty and brave
spirit.
Succeeds against all odds.
Mythical elements, “the image of Vincent in the last scene ‘riding a
chariot of fire, like a young god”. Sue Tweg
MORALITY PLAY (Morals of society)
Tells about human virtues and failings
Characters have symbolic meaning
Vincent-Freeman
Provides the audience with a clear message about moral and
ethical issues
FICTIONAL WORLDS
UTOPIA – perfectly organize and happy
DYSTOPIA- completely cruel and destructive to social happiness
and freedom.
In your own words, what kind of world is Gattaca as a place to live in?
THEMES:
- Genetics and nature
- Discrimination
- Science and dreams
- Name and identification
- Relationships
- Future society
GENETICS AND NATURE
- Genetic manipulation intervenes in a natural process of DNA
replicating itself.
- Genetics and nature might sometimes work in opposition to each
other.
- What is natural? Epigraphs present two contrasting ideas. Which
view does the film support?
- Benefits of genetic engineering? “ For the genetically superior
success is easier to attain but by no means guaranteed”
- What does it mean to be human? How do people deal with life
experiences and what qualities help of hinder their capacity to live
fully?
DISCRIMINATION
– “We now have discrimination down to a science”
– Valid and Invalid codes to define people
– Your body used in evidence against you. Discrimination facilitated by
constant DNA surveillance.
– Film reminds that human body is a mass of active cells, draws
attention to spit, hair, eyelashes, blood, urine, saliva, skin flakes, and
nail clippings. Normally disposed of privately, they become all
important samples.
SCIENCE AND DREAMS
– Dream of space exploration, Mission to Titan.
– Vincent’s dream to go into space. Jerome asks “Why? What’s up there? I
don’t’ know. That’s what I want to find out…
– Dream of a “better” world created by science. Unfor99999seen
positive and negative consequences. Gattaca demonstrates how utopian
dreams can turn into dystopian nightmares.
“Consider God’s handiwork: who can straighten
what He hath made crooked?”
Ecclesiastes 7.13
“I not only think that we will tamper with Mother
Nature, I think Mother wants us to.”
Willard Gaylin
