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Gattaca Quick Review

Essay by   •  May 3, 2011  •  896 Words (4 Pages)  •  1,288 Views

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Gattaca gives one perspective of what the future of discrimination is to become: DNA. "No longer determined by social status or the color of your skin, no, we now have discrimination down to a science." Gattaca is similar to our current NASA, a space agency in the future that is only open to those with the "right things." Children, for those who can afford it, are now created by DNA manipulation, called "valids." You can essentially buy whatever traits you would like for your baby.Set within a world governed by genetic engineering, Andrew Niccol's film, Gattaca, portrays the dire consequences of such a society in "the not too distant future". Given a pre-determined life as a "god child" due of his parent's adherence to religious beliefs, Vincent Freeman is an individual who "refuses to play the hand he was dealt". Vincent although seemingly cursed with an imperfect genetic composition manages to overcome considerable odds in order to achieve his dream of space travel. From the moment that Vincent was conceived, he was born into a world where ridiculous restrictions were already placed upon him that prohibited him from pursuing after his goals. Antonio, Vincent's father was aware from the exact instant that his "In-Valid" son was born that he did not have the necessary genetic traits, thus he deemed Vincent not worthy enough to bestow upon his own name. Throughout his childhood Vincent was constantly subjected to prejudicial ridicule from the so called superior "Valid" caste. Incidents such as the symbolic shutting of the metal gate in Vincent's face as he w...... Gattaca Corp. is an aerospace firm in the future. During this time society analyzes your DNA and determines where you belong in life. Ethan Hawke's character was born with a congenital heart condition which would cast him out of getting a chance to travel in space. So in turn he assumes the identity of an athlete who has genes that would allow him to achieve his dream of space travel.Vincent is one of the last "natural" babies born into a sterile, genetically-enhanced world, where life expectancy and disease likelihood are ascertained at birth. Myopic and due to die at 30, he has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion. Going underground, he assumes the identity of Jerome, crippled in an accident, and achieves prominence in the Gattaca Corporation, where he is selected for his lifelong desire: a manned mission to Saturn. Constantly passing gene tests by diligently using samples of Jerome's hair, skin, blood and urine, his now-perfect world is thrown into increasing desperation, his dream within reach, when the mission director is killed - and he carelessly loses an eyelash at the scene! Certain that they know the murderer's ID, but unable to track down the former Vincent, the police start to close in, with extra searches, and new gene tests. With the once-in-a-lifetime launch only days away, Vincent must avoid arousing suspicion, while passing the tests, evading the police, and not knowing whom he can trustThe film presents a retro-futurist vision of a society driven by liberal eugenics. Children of the upper classes are genetically engineered in-vitro to be the

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