Gattaca (1997)

In the world of Gattaca who you are is defined by your genes. Designer babies whose DNA has been altered have become a reality and genetic imperfections have been removed as much as possible. Still there are some parents who decide that they won’t let science alter their child and have nature take its course. Unfortunately in the society of Gattaca that immediately means a disadvantage. After they have been born a test is done to see how old a child will be and which diseases it will have in its life. Although it is forbidden by law to deny someone a job based on their genes this type of discrimination has become commonplace. A hair, some saliva or a glass someone touched are all that is needed to extract DNA and check the records of an applicant. It means that “natural babies” don’t get hired for the best jobs.

Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) has experienced this and can only work as a janitor at Gattaca. The company is not unlike the NASA, but here thousand of people are at work to make sure their can be a launch each day. Vincent has been dreaming of going into space since he was a child and he is prepared to do anything to get there. To get the job he really wants he has to make some big changes in his life in order to make that a reality.

The only way in which Vincent can be successful is by pretending to be someone else and in order to do so he will need to have someone else’s DNA with him at all times. That person is the disabled Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law), who helps him. Vincent manages to get hired at Gattaca and seems on his way realizing his dream, until a murder is committed at the company. The police quickly discovers that an unwanted person is working at Gattaca and they have to track him down. It means a game of cat and mouse between Vincent and the detectives on the case.

What makes Gattaca such a fantastic movie is the way in which it creates a convincing and consistent world. Because of the development in the field of DNA it becomes clear that the story is set in the future, but the style of the movie shows strong influences from the past. Old cards from the sixties and seventies are now electric, but keep their classic look. The detectives on the case look like they have stepped out of some film noir movies, wearing rain coats and hats. The sets look fantastic and at times reminded me of the twenties.

The classic look of the world mixed with modern DNA technology, where who you are is decided by your genes is an interesting combination. When Vincent gets to know Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman) she asks him if he wants to see her DNA results, probably because she had some bad experiences with men in the past when they found out. In this world it seems that feelings are only allowed if the DNA shows you are healthy. With the current developments in our world, where genetically modified food has already become a reality it is a future not that hard to imagine. Wouldn’t a lot of parents be willing to have the DNA of their child altered to give them an advantage in life and prevent it from getting specific diseases?

Vincent wants to prove that he is a man who isn’t what his DNA tells everybody he is and Ethan Hawke convincingly portrays that. The rest of the cast is worth watching as well. Jude Law’s character is very clearly not the person he used to be before he was disabled. You understand why that character wants to lend a helping hand. Thanks to an amazing story, beautiful sets and strong acting this dramatic thriller pulls the viewer into its world and leaves a lasting impression.