"Gattaca"(Film:1997) Destiny transcends genes. A masterpiece of science fiction filled with sadness
//Summary -Level-C2//
"Gattaca" (1997) defies genetic determinism in a near-future society. Vincent, deemed genetically inferior, pursues his dream of space exploration by assuming the identity of a genetically superior man. The film, a departure from mainstream sci-fi, explores discrimination, identity fraud, and the human spirit. Despite its initial box office struggles, "Gattaca" became a seminal work, influencing the "cry science fiction" genre. Its emotional depth, intricate characters, and focus on human resilience make it a timeless exploration of destiny and selfhood.
A)
"Gattaca" Synopsis
A near future controlled by genetic engineering. All people are divided into "good people" and "bad people". Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut, but his dream cannot come true if he is an "unsuitable person". To make his dream come true, he buys the ID of a "proper person" named Jerome Moreau from a DNA broker.
After acquiring Jerome's genes, Vincent is chosen to be the navigator of the Titan exploration ship. But one day, as the boat is about to leave, Vincent's boss is killed by someone. Vincent's hair is discovered at the crime scene, and they are forced to discover his true identity.
B)
A "heterogeneous existence" that deviates from the mainstream of science fiction films
Even if my genes are against me, I won't give up on my dreams.
Even if I lie about my identity, my heart remains mine.
A high level of design, a delicate world view and, above all, a precious belief. Since its release in 1997, it has become a "torch in the hearts" of many people. It is a science fiction drama that follows a young man who continues to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut despite being branded a "defective product" in a near future where genes are supreme.
A heart-wrenching friendship with a partner who joins forces to make a dream come true, a suspenseful tale of a life-threatening "identity fraud", a feud with a younger brother who is destined to join the elite, a romance with a woman who hides her true self and after the film. A masterpiece that should become the cornerstone of your life.
Look at the film released in the United States in 1997. Even if we narrow it down to science fiction, this work was unique among the flashy works such as "The Fifth Element", "The Lost World/Jurassic Park", "Men in Black", "Contact" and "Alien 4". Considering that "12 Monkeys" and "Waterworld" were released in 1995, and "Independence Day" in 1996, "Gattaca" was a film that was far from the mainstream of science fiction movies at that time.
C)
After debuting at #5, the box office dropped to #9 and #13, and the domestic box office was $12.53 million against an estimated production cost of $36 million (reference: Box Office Mojo). This would undoubtedly be a hit in this day and age of social networking sites, but it seems to have been a complete box office flop.
It was released in Japan in May 1998, at the same time as Starship Troopers (1997). I was ten years old at the time, and it would be five or six years before I discovered this film. So I can't speak to the atmosphere at the time. Still, I picked it up at the video store not because it was science fiction but because I was attracted to the artistry, and the people who went to the cinema at that time had similar motives.
However, just because this film did not do well at the box office does not mean it is underrated. In 2011, it was voted the number one "Realistic Science Fiction Movie" by NASA, and it continues to influence many subsequent works, including films, manga, anime and novels. If film fans were to vote for the best film of all time, it would be at the top. I came across this film as a teenager, and it immediately became "one of my life's films". I still feel that way today.
He has been a maverick since he was born into this world, and even though he is labelled a "failure", he continues to strive hard and eventually captivates people. He overlaps with the character of The similarities are truly dramatic.
D)
The originator of "cry science fiction".
Andrew Niccol, who worked on "Gattaca", is a former commercial director, and this is his debut as a feature film director. The main cast are Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman (now divorced), who married after this film, and Jude Law before his big break. Maya Hawke, Ethan and Uma's daughter appears in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and it feels like 22 years have passed since the film was released in the US. This film was also a turning point in his film career.
At the same time, "Gattaca" also changed the image of science fiction films. Embrace your dreams no matter what kind of world you are born into. That's what humans are. This also concerns the aforementioned "difference" from science fiction films of the same period. Still, finding a science fiction film that sincerely affirms life and offers such hope is scarce. This work may have given rise to the popular genre of "cry science fiction", such as "Interstellar" (2014) and "The Message" (16).
E)
The story, which eliminated the action that was the main component of SF movies and focused on suffering and conflict, reached a demographic that did not like SF movies, creating an opportunity to expand the boundaries of the genre. Although there may have been some parts that dealt with the trendy word "DNA manipulation", what was crucial was that it depicted the "human heart" that remains unchanged through the ages.
If simplified, this work's plot is similar to that of a sports film. He makes up for his lack of ability with hard work and aims to join the selection team... Isn't that just like a classic Jump manga? However, the situation of the film's main character, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), is even more complicated.
From the moment he was born, he was determined to be worthless, and instead of being recognised, his path was blocked from the start. How many times has he cursed the world? How much time did he spend in despair? The story of such a young man who risked his life to rebel against the world is a story that evokes passionate emotions even though it is told quietly.
F)
The first 9 minutes are so heartbreaking.
The world depicted in this work, where the system determines the fate of people, is a setting that also influenced the popular anime "PSYCHO-PASS" (2012-19). Shortly, the estimated lifespan will be known within seconds of birth, and those born through DNA manipulation will be given preferential treatment.
The main character, Vincent, born by natural childbirth, is diagnosed as "unfit" from the moment he takes a breath, and his life begins in a negative state. However, this "minus" never becomes "zero" or "plus".
As the film begins, two words come to mind: "Who can mend what God has broken?" (Ecclesiastes) and "Nature is ready to challenge man" (Willard Gaylin). Vincent is then shown carefully shaving the hair from his entire body, removing the dirt and burning it. He then attaches a urine bag to his body, replaces his fingerprints, smears his blood and goes to work.
Combined with the smoky blue background and the melancholy melody created by the famous composer Michael Nyman, the pessimistic situation in which Vincent suddenly becomes very touching. Even though He is not guilty, not even one of his cells is welcome.
After finishing his work on the computer, Vincent carefully cleans the cracks in his keyboard with compressed air to remove all traces of himself, using the hair of his real partner and collaborator, Jerome (Jude Law), instead. He scatters the pieces. He passes the urine test and looks up at the sky, thinking about his long-awaited mission to Saturn, just a week away. This is his daily life "as Jerome".
So far, it has taken about 9 minutes. Gattaca is a 106-minute film, so the viewer learns about 30 years of his life in less than a tenth of the movie. How long has he been killing himself and pretending to be someone else? To write this review, I watched this film again for the first time in several years, and at this point, I cried. It is a way to a dream that is too painful.
G)
What's even sadder is that Vincent has been chosen to go to Saturn. His abilities are no different from those of an average person. No, it's more than that. But Vincent is not allowed to live as himself. If he doesn't cover it up with the "personality" of Jerome, all his efforts so far will be in vain. The driving force behind Vincent, who swallows all his regrets and anger and continues to be Jerome, is his desire for his dreams.
Both his parents and his younger brother have told him since he was a child that he can't do it. He was thrown out of primary school and left out of every job interview as an adult. He entered the workplace of his dreams not as a chosen scientist but as a cleaner. Discrimination is a science now. But I can take it because I have a dream. I can live. I don't care if it's a crime.
I wonder if I could dream so strongly and live for it. "Gattaca" is embedded in the genes of those who watch it, giving them the courage to face hardships.
H)
Main characters are responsible for "empathy", "rejection", "past", and "future".
The most common emotion that comes and goes while watching "Gattaca" is "painful". In this work, four people influence Vincent. They are Jerome, his colleague Irene (Uma Thurman), his real brother Anton (Lauren Dean) and the doctor Raymer (Xander Berkeley). Each episode with them has a different tone of "sadness".
First, about Jerome. The "dream" depicted in this work is not for one person. Jerome, whose dream of becoming a gold medallist was cut short by an accident that left him in a wheelchair, has also been given meaning in life by Vincent.
Although their goals are different, their desire to dream is the same. They are missing each other, so they are entirely playing one another. The second half, in which the secret feelings of Jerome, who continues to support Vincent as the only person who understands him, are revealed, is one of the film's highlights. The "true friendship that transcends genetic differences" embodied by Ethan and Jude is clear and beautiful every time I watch it.
I)
Vincent and Irene's love story is quite complicated. Vincent is attracted to Irene because she believes the ''right person will return his love''. Their final conversation is one of the most famous lines in the series, but it is also the emotion that Vincent has always wanted to express to the right person. Irene and Jerome are paired, each with their "empathy" and "rejection" responsibilities. This structure is why this work is known as a love romance.
The people responsible for Vincent's "past" and "future" are Anton, who is always one step ahead of his brother, and Reimer, who judges Vincent to be a doctor. The long-distance swimming competition between Vincent and Anton, shown several times in the film, can be seen as an expression of the "superiority of genes". The ocean is a metaphor for the womb.
The superior sperm = Anton will reach the egg = target first. However, one day, Vincent overturns this theory. He decided to live his dream, even if it meant erasing his identity because he had beaten Anton, whom he could never have won, just once. Together, Anton and Reimer remind Vincent that nothing is impossible.
"Compassion", "rejection", "the past", "the future"... What awaits us beyond all this is a dream that was only a dream. My heart is now freed from the weight of being an "inappropriate person".
You can't control destiny.
I am myself.
"Gattaca"(Film:1997) Destiny transcends genes. A masterpiece of science fiction filled with sadness
https://cinemore.jp/jp/erudition/792/article_796_p1.html
Is Gattaca the future of genetic testing?
https://first-genetic-testing.com/genetic-testing/gattaca.html
Gattaca(1997) - IMDb 7.7
A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Uma ThurmanJude Law
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/
Gattaca - (Film:1997) - Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AC%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB
The movie "Gattaca" was released in 1997. It is a classic science fiction suspense film depicting the cruel future brought about by science.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4ifGG7gRo
Only the "suitable people" born through DNA manipulation will receive preferential treatment shortly.
Vincent, a young man born naturally as an "inappropriate person," attempts to travel to space by pretending to be an "inappropriate person."
