Gattaca (1997)

Gattaca is a 1997 American science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It stars Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law with supporting roles played by Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal and Alan Arkin.[1] The film was a 1997 nominee for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction — Set Decoration. The film presents a vision of a society driven by liberal eugenics where potential children are selected through preimplantation genetic diagnosis to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to instantly identify and classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived by traditional means are derisively known as "in-valids". While genetic discrimination is forbidden by law, in practice it is easy to profile a person's genotype resulting in the Valids qualifying for professional employment while the In-Valids (who are considered to be more susceptible to physical and intellectual and psychological dysfunction and under-performance) are relegated to menial jobs. The movie draws on concerns over reproductive technologies which facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. It also explores the idea of human spirit and the ways in which it can and does govern lives. Characters in Gattaca continually battle both with the society and with themselves to find their place in the world and who they are destined to be according to their genes. The title is based on the initial letters of the four DNA nitrogenous bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine). During the credits the letters G, C, T, and A are all highlighted.

In "the not-so-distant future", liberal eugenics is common and DNA plays the primary role in determining social class. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) is conceived and born without the aid of this technology. He has a high probability of mental illness, heart disorder and a life expectancy of 30.2 years. His parents initially placed their faith in natural birth and now regret it; Vincent's younger brother, Anton, is conceived with the aid of genetic selection. Anton surpasses his older brother in many aspects including a game that they call "chicken" — both swim out into the sea, and the first to give up and swim back to shore is the loser. Anton always wins due to his superior physical stamina. Vincent dreams of a career in space, but is constantly reminded of his genetic inferiority. One day when the two brothers are older, Vincent decides to leave the house, and for the last time challenges Anton with a game of chicken. For an unknown reason, Vincent swims farther out than his brother, while Anton runs into trouble and begins to drown. Vincent saves him, then leaves home shortly thereafter. Due to frequent screening, Vincent faces genetic discrimination and prejudice. The only way he can achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut is to become a "borrowed ladder", a person who impersonates a "valid" with appropriate genetic profile.[2] He assumes the identity of Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law), a former swimming star with a genetic profile "second to none", who had an accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Vincent "buys" Jerome's identity and uses his "valid" DNA in blood, hair, tissue, and urine samples to pass screening. In order for his status to remain hidden, he has to be meticulous about cleaning up his genetic material and replacing it with Jerome's. With Jerome's genetic profile Vincent gains access to the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, the most prestigious space-flight conglomerate. He becomes Gattaca's top celestial navigator and is selected for a manned spaceflight to Saturn's moon Titan. A week before Vincent is to leave on the one-year mission, one of Gattaca's managing directors is found murdered in his office. Police discover evidence of Vincent's own "in-valid" DNA, making him the prime suspect. Vincent must evade increasing security measures as his launch date approaches. Simultaneously, he becomes close to both Jerome and one of his co-workers, Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman). These valids also suffer from the genetic hierarchy of the society. Irene is resigned to her less favorable treatment within Gattaca due to her less perfect profile; her initial attraction to Vincent is largely due to his perceived "second to none" superiority. Jerome suffers from the burden of his genetic perfection. When he won only a silver medal in a high-profile competition, it was seen by his peers as a failure due to his genetic advantage. While intoxicated, Jerome confesses that he did not have a car accident. Rather, he attempted suicide by jumping in front of a car, but only paralyzed himself from the waist down. After numerous close calls, Vincent's identity is revealed to Irene. Irene finally sees Vincent for who he is and they fall in love. The investigation unexpectedly comes to a close as Director Josef (Gore Vidal) is arrested for the murder. The Director reveals that he murdered the mission director because the victim was trying to cancel the Titan mission. As Vincent appears to be in the clear he is confronted by the youthful chief detective, who is revealed to be Vincent's estranged younger brother, Anton (Loren Dean). Anton accuses Vincent of fraud and asserts that Vincent is unworthy of his place at Gattaca. Vincent offers to prove his worthiness by challenging Anton to chicken. As he did before, Vincent beats Anton who once again must be rescued by his brother. When Anton asks him how he did it, Vincent reveals that he never saved any strength for the swim back. As the day of the launch arrives, Jerome bids Vincent farewell. He reveals that he has stored enough genetic samples to last Vincent two lifetimes. Overwhelmed and grateful, Vincent thanks Jerome, but Jerome replies that it is he who should be grateful, since Vincent lent Jerome his dreams. Jerome gives Vincent a card but asks him not to open it until he reaches space. As Vincent moves through the Gattaca complex to the launch site, he is stopped for an unexpected last urine test. Vincent has not brought Jerome's urine to hide his identity as he assumed there would not be any more tests once inside Gattaca. The test result uncovers Vincent's identity, but Lamar, the doctor conducting the test (and who also conducted Vincent's initial interview at Gattaca) reveals he has known Vincent's identity for some time. Lamar reminds Vincent that he has wanted to tell Vincent about his son -- his son admires Vincent and wants to be an astronaut despite a genetic defect that would rule him out. Lamar switches the test result, allowing Vincent to proceed. The shuttle lifts off with Vincent, and he opens the card from Jerome to find no words -- just a hair sample, reflecting all DNA can express, and cannot. On Earth, Jerome climbs inside his home incinerator, puts on his silver medal and fires up the flames, killing himself as Vincent's shuttle flight lifts off. Vincent says via voiceover that he is suddenly sad to leave Earth, despite never being meant for it. He explains that "they say every atom in our bodies was once a part of a star," and wonders, "Maybe I'm not leaving, maybe I'm going home."