Classics: A Review of Gattaca By Lauren Ennis

Is our fate predetermined? If so, is there any way to escape it? These are the questions that lie at the heart of 1997's futuristic dystopia Gattaca. Released on the cusp of the new millennium, the film offered an unnerving look into a future that now seems frighteningly near. At once a warning against the dangers of state control and eugenics and a tribute to the human spirit Gattaca is a drama that is truly out of this world. 

The story begins in the 'not too distant future' in which society is divided between genetically engineered designer babies known as 'valids' and naturally conceived 'invalids'. The valids make up society's elites and rule over the invalids, who are restricted to menial jobs with no hope for self-improvement. The film opens with valid astronaut Jerome preparing for his upcoming mission to space. The story then flashes back to reveal that the astronaut is actually an invalid named Vincent who is posing as Jerome in order to fulfill his life long dream of traveling to space. Vincent's parents chose to conceive him naturally, but soon regretted their decision after he was born with a heart defect and other mental and physical deficiencies. After years of living in the shadow of his younger, valid, brother he becomes determined to take his fate into his own hands. He then concocts a scheme in which he trades identities with valid Jerome, an Olympic swimmer who was recently paralyzed during a failed suicide attempt. After undergoing a grueling transformation, Vincent embarks upon a career at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation under Jerome's name and is chosen to be part of the crew on an upcoming flight to Saturn. One week before the flight a murder occurs at Gattaca. Over the course of the ensuing investigation Vincent is forced into a race against time as he finds his identity, his career, and freedom under threat.

Blending intimate character study and political drama against a futuristic backdrop, Gattaca stands out from the spaceship and alien stereotypes that dominate modern science fiction. Rather than presenting viewers with a fantastic otherworldly experience the film instead offers a visceral glimpse into what might be a future that is nearer than we think. By presenting viewers with a dystopia that is so strikingly similar to our own world the film forces us to confront the same fundamental questions that its characters are faced with. The ethical questions surrounding genetic engineering particularly resonate given the advent of 'designer babies', the rise of artificial intelligence, and the ascendance of neuro-technology. Even during the era of the film's release, however, its exploration of the lure of eugenics offered a vital warning for the future should we fail to learn from the darkest chapters of our past. The film cleverly uses its eugenics based society to raise questions about meritocracy, self-determination, and the nature of freedom. Through its depiction of Vincent's unlikely rise and Jerome's devastating fall from grace the film acknowledges the ways in which our beginnings shape who we are, while reminding us that only we can ultimately determine who we become. In this way, the film defies the victim mindset that dominates current Western culture and offers an antidote to modern nihilistic malaise. The film's portrayal of a society that is blatantly under state control but too bitterly divided to realize it also offers a social critique that is eerily prescient in today's political climate. Step into the future with Vincent, Irene, and Jerome in Gattaca.

The film brilliantly transports viewers into the future thanks to the stellar work of its cast. Loren Dean aptly portrays the inner conflict of Vincent's valid, law abiding, brother Aton. Uma Thurman radiates cool charisma as Vincent's valid love interest, Irene. Jude Law turns in one of the best performances in his career as Jerome, a valid whose elite status fails to protect him from his own inner torment. Ethan Hawke is nothing short of inspiring in his heartfelt turn as ultimate underdog Vincent and reminds us all of what we can achieve if we only have the drive to pursue it. 

At once a warning for the future and a timeless glimpse into the human condition Gattaca is a film for the ages. Through its intelligent and emotionally raw script the film relates a tale that is at once unique to its futuristic setting and entirely universal. The film's uniformly superb performances bring each of its characters to vibrant, aching, life. Reach for the stars with Vincent in Gattaca.