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Thinking about the premise of Andew Niccol’s 1997 sci-fi film Gattaca is even more chilling today. The film imagines a “utopian” society where advanced biogenetics has enabled humans to select their best genes and traits in order to produce genetically superior offspring. Set in the not-too-distant future, Gattaca assumes that Biogenetics’ breakneck speed will hurl humanity into a world where even the color of your hair can be determined before birth.  

Recent developments in Biogenetics suggest that the reality portrayed in Gattaca is not too far-fetched. Just last month a team of Filipinos led by Dr. Jay Lazaro of the University of the Philippines Diliman unveiled a breakthrough in cancer treatment where natural antibodies will be used to carry anti-cancer drugs which in turn will target only cancer cells, thus, ensuring less pain for the patient. These kinds of advances in technology are sure to make leaps and bounds in the future. The question Gattaca raises is this: should we use our knowledge to govern over our reproduction? In the film, the consequences of answering in the affirmative are tremendous. 

Vincent, played by Ethan Hawke, is the protagonist and narrator of the film. Through his character the film showcases the adverse effects of genetic liberties. He is classified as an ‘invalid’, one of those born out of love and chance, not by genetic tampering. His parents came to regret this as they learn upon his birth that he is bound to live only up to 30.2 years due to a heart disorder. Due to his flawed genetic profile his opportunities became slim. Vincent’s destiny was essentially chosen at birth. 

The tenacity of the human spirit is highlighted in the film. Vincent refused to follow the social order and dreamt of becoming a space navigator. To achieve this, he had to become a “borrowed ladder” or assume the identity of someone genetically blessed. Enter James Morrow, played by Jude Law. Morrow is described in the film as having a genetic profile “second to none.” But it was this very perfection that led to his character’s demise. Morrow, a former swimming champion, could not tolerate coming in second place in a contest and tried to kill himself, he was left paralyzed from the waist-down instead.

­Using Morrow’s blood, urine and hair samples, Vincent was able to penetrate Gattaca and rise through the ranks quickly. The question of whether Vincent would be found out provided constant tension in the film, supported by a haunting musical score. The tension escalates throughout the film as a murder strengthens Gattaca security and a fellow navigator (Irene, played by Uma Thurman) develops a liking to Vincent and stalks him to find out their compatibility. 

Some of the best scenes in the film were the interactions between Hawk and Law’s characters. The juxtaposition between frail Vincent and the shrewd, superior Morrow is brilliantly toppled as the film progresses. Law lent an intensity and vulnerability to Morrow’s character that sometimes overshadowed Hawk. Thurman, on the other hand, was a commendable embodiment of the cold, impassive Irene, which can be seen as another parallel to the sterile, robotic reality in Gattaca.

The setting of the film, though set in the future, is reminiscent of a 50’s-60’s environment, with new-age buildings and retro-looking cars. The characters in the film wore uniforms according to their ranks. The color scheme in the entire film is composed of neutral colors, again a parallelism to the sterile reality depicted.

The flashback sequence in the early parts of the film is too long and detailed. It robbed the viewer of the chance to be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together by himself. The revelations at the end of the film tie it up nicely, though they seem to be sketched in. 

A mixture of carefully timed silences, dry-humor and body language moved the story along with the narration. However the film did not achieve the subtlety I think it sought out to attain. The film’s message is easily grasped. Humans should not try to intervene with fate. Morrow, though genetically superior, comes out as a depressed and pathetic character in the end, trapped in his own perfection and unable to accept failure. Vincent, on the other hand, refused to let his genes govern his life. He always looked up to space, looking for a way to escape the ‘valid world’ for his invalid self. 

The consequences Gattaca outlined of playing with destiny are frightening. The power to produce genetically superior offspring may very well lead to social stratification. Those who have the means to tamper with their genes become the new upper-class. They will produce offspring with better chances and opportunities in the world. Too much power can easily lead to abuse. The “utopian” society in Gattaca is oppressive and robotic. In the world of Gattaca emotions bear little weight. To think that there is even the slightest possibility of that becoming reality is infinitely more disturbing than the thought of alien invasions. 

In spite of its structural flaws, Gattaca’s intelligent script achieved the feat of lacing deep and driven characters with the sci-fi staple of outlining the consequences that technology may bring about. In Gattaca the fear of what you see in the horizon is infinitely greater than fear of the unknown.