A Synopsis of Andrew Niccol's Film Gattaca
Andrew Niccols film Gattaca, Highlights the importance of human ambition and willpower as the key to deciding and changing your life/fate, by depicting a society that encourages upon genetic profile to decide the future of an individual instead of their determination and ambition. The protagonist, Vincent Anton Freeman “A limited invalid” demonstrates how genetics have little influence over sheer determination and grit. Similarly, minor characters such as Jerome Eugene Morrow, is ultimately liberated from his “burden of perfection” through an understanding and respect for Vincent’s display of willpower. This is in contrast to Irene, who enforces the reality of the Gattaca society, showing the idea that the clear preference for superior DNA, traps and enables most valids/invalids the freedom to create their own life, due to the rigid discrimination and disbelief against inferior genes as they have not been taught of determination or human spirit. Throughout the film, Vincent continually demonstrates through his single minded determination in pursuit of his dream that you are able to decide and control your own life. To a society that “has discrimination down to science” valuing superior genes, Vincent is born a “god-child” with a 99% probability” of developing a heart disorder and life expectancy of only “30.2 years”. Despite “belonging to a new underclass” We as an audience follow him and watch as he strives on with his belief that “there is no gene for fate” as he “takes to extreme measures” and is willing to undergo leg surgery to further resemble Jerome, consoling himself by repeatedly thinking “when I would eventually stand up, I would be two inches closer to the stars”. In addition, Vincent even risks his life asserting “I never saved anything for the swim back” capturing Vincent’s determination and success to control his own life, instead of being dictated by society and his inferior DNA. Moreover, the recurring motif of swimming or else, “the chicken game”