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Bassel Hashem

Friday, November 07, 2014

Rec Fri. 3:30-4:45

Film Critical Response


Gattaca

Gattaca is a futuristic city, a research center specializing in aerospace research but has
some significant characteristics: the center only hires people whose genetics approach perfection.
This story takes place in the near future, where scientific developments in genetics have
developed and have solved the mystery of DNA and the human genome. The acquisition of
knowledge has allowed science to create human beings genetically selected. Every parent wishes
to have a child and then has the option to choose all the features of their children, eye color, hair,
through the eradication of their genetic diseases, to create beings without flaws, perfect. Human
beings are genetically at birth. Therefore, the criterion for hiring this company, and in particular
this research center is nothing but the genetic code for employees, as it appears to resume. Only
those with perfect genes have access to better jobs; children with natural genes, designed without
the aid of science, called natural or invalid are in turn forced to poverty, exclusion,
segregation, and low level jobs.
Although this is officially banned, companies and employers use discrete DNA testing
(an exchange of a handshake) instead of resumes to select their employees, and those who are
natural find themselves socially paralyzed. The importance of DNA in this society is found
even in the title of the film Gattaca since the title refers to the four nucleotides, the four DNA
base such as guanine, adenine, thymine, cytosine and the sequence, Gattaca itself shows itself
many times in the human genome sequence.
Throughout the film, the sea and water symbolize nature and humanitys desire to
conquer it. Niccol quotes Willard Gaylin who states I not only think that we will tamper with

Mother Nature, but that Mother Nature wants us to. This helps create a base of understanding
for the arrogance of society in the way that we manipulate and destroy our environment for our
own benefit. The arrogance of this statement, and in turn the arrogance of society in the way that
we manipulate and destroy our environment, is portrayed through the young Anton. Proud,
handsome and perfect, he is the complete epitome of how conceited the society of Gattaca has
become, and the way our own is becoming today.
Niccol uses Anton and Vincents swimming races in the wild, expansive ocean, to
portray how blinded we all have become in life by our own ambition and desire to manipulate
science and the environment. The first swimming race where Vincent is beaten by Anton serves
as a plot device pre-empting the climax of the film where both brothers, play chicken swimming
out. Vincent initially loses, from being tangled in the seaweed and being forced to give up. This
shows and perpetuates his lack of confidence in his ability. Vincent has not yet learned that his
true potential does not exist in his genetic makeup, but rather in his desire and ambition to
succeed. He was unable to understand that he in fact already possesses everything he needs,
sheer determination and will, to overcome the boundaries and limitations pumped into his
mentality by the perfect society.
At the start of the second swimming race, we see Vincent holding himself as more as an
individual than a brother next to Anton. He sees Anton as another obstacle to his goals. The
aerial shots of Vincent and gold filter used during the scenes of the first race are not as prevalent
in the second race, where we are instead presented with dominating splashes of red present in the
flags, and green filter in the underwater shots. Intensifying aerial shots are again used in this
second race and in the third, only this time they are of both boys, almost giving the impression of
God looking down them.

These final two races intensify the argument between man and nature. We can see that
the valids can strive for something along the lines of strive for perfection and no more. Anton is
man-made, and so cannot overcome something so natural and wild. Vincent is completely
natural, a God-child, and his beating the conditions symbolizes that nature and God/nature will
always dominate and the unidentifiable traits given to a being by those forces has no limit to its
ability. The most beautiful line that may put all this into perspective is Vincents during the final
race. When asked how he is able to swim further, he replies, because I didnt save anything for
the swim back. This line helps create the distinction between the two, Anton and Vincent.
Anton is created scientifically. Science is logical; it has answers for best case and worst case
scenario. Vincent is created by nature, by the unexplainable forces around him. He cannot be
explained by science or by logic. He is not thinking of the way back, or even the worst case
scenario, all he knows is that he is going to keep forward regardless of what that means for his
safety and life. There is no gene for the human spirit. His perseverance and determination could
not have possibly been mixed up in a lab.
In a world where man attempts to conquer all, it is important to see the importance of the
intangible things within society. Moving forward in science and technology is all important and
crucial to our survival as a human race, but we mustnt forget why as humans we choose to
pursue these endeavors. The human spirit is incredibly strong, and is something that cannot be
created in a lab or fashioned. It thrives on trials and obstacles that we face in everyday life, and
ultimately it thrives on imperfection. Sandel suggests that humanitys amazing discoveries and
developments are due to society and those and that in it being imperfect. If everything were to be
perfected, there would be no need to move forward and thus no human spirit to fuel great

advancements in society. If humanity as a whole can keep that inexplicable trait, theres no
reason why we cant see a world much more advance than the one we see in Gattaca.
Gattaca is a science fiction film without fighting, or impressive special effects: thats
because it favors ideas, the substance rather than form. It thrives on the idea of human spirit
being a lead motivator for the future.

Bibliography
Sandel, M. J. (2007) The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering,
Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Neven Sesardic (2008) GATTACA, Ch 59 The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Film

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