Gattaca Notes
Gattaca Notes
Context: * 1997 science fiction drama film * directed by Andrew Niccol * film presents vision of a society driven by “new eugenics”
Title: * ‘GATTACA’-made up from abbreviations for the DNA nucleotide bases * During opening credits-names of cast & crew are telegraphed by the letters of the four bases-joined afterwards by the other letters of their names * Suggests the films point that people are first seen in terms of their genetic profile * And only secondly as a person
Genre:
Science fiction: * Asks “what if” * Often pushes an important & disturbing idea to its logical conclusion
Film Noir: * Style from 1940’s –usually involved a criminal investigation * Shot in black & white in shadowy urban locations * Subdued lighting which masks a criminal world of corruption & dubious morality * This evident in Gattaca- conventional dress of hard-boiled Detective * Trench coat & trilby and uses the language of his trade * Genre also echoed when police pursue Vincent & Irene through back alleys-near night club * References to police as ‘Feds’, ‘Hoovers’, ‘J Edgars’-harks back to gangster-film America of 1940s-50s
Romance: * Vincent-Irene story occupies significant number of scenes * Works at an emotional level-has great narrative power * Vincent getting girl also part of his triumph against the odds * Irene is imperfect and feels unworthy of Vincents 9.3 rating * He accepts her regardless and when she finds out he is an in-valid she also accepts him * Niccol making the point its people’s inner worth which is important
Themes:
Determinism or free will: * Explores whether or not a person can overcome ones genetic destiny * To what extent is a persons destiny a matter of choice * Vincent’s battle with adversity is the major psychological narrative of Gattaca * Film arugues that willpower, determination and courage
Context: * 1997 science fiction drama film * directed by Andrew Niccol * film presents vision of a society driven by “new eugenics”
Title: * ‘GATTACA’-made up from abbreviations for the DNA nucleotide bases * During opening credits-names of cast & crew are telegraphed by the letters of the four bases-joined afterwards by the other letters of their names * Suggests the films point that people are first seen in terms of their genetic profile * And only secondly as a person
Genre:
Science fiction: * Asks “what if” * Often pushes an important & disturbing idea to its logical conclusion
Film Noir: * Style from 1940’s –usually involved a criminal investigation * Shot in black & white in shadowy urban locations * Subdued lighting which masks a criminal world of corruption & dubious morality * This evident in Gattaca- conventional dress of hard-boiled Detective * Trench coat & trilby and uses the language of his trade * Genre also echoed when police pursue Vincent & Irene through back alleys-near night club * References to police as ‘Feds’, ‘Hoovers’, ‘J Edgars’-harks back to gangster-film America of 1940s-50s
Romance: * Vincent-Irene story occupies significant number of scenes * Works at an emotional level-has great narrative power * Vincent getting girl also part of his triumph against the odds * Irene is imperfect and feels unworthy of Vincents 9.3 rating * He accepts her regardless and when she finds out he is an in-valid she also accepts him * Niccol making the point its people’s inner worth which is important
Themes:
Determinism or free will: * Explores whether or not a person can overcome ones genetic destiny * To what extent is a persons destiny a matter of choice * Vincent’s battle with adversity is the major psychological narrative of Gattaca * Film arugues that willpower, determination and courage