Vincent, an "In-Valid", assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mi... Read allVincent, an "In-Valid", assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mission, a murder marks Vincent as a suspect.Vincent, an "In-Valid", assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mission, a murder marks Vincent as a suspect.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 6 wins & 16 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaUma Thurman and Ethan Hawke became a couple during the filming of this movie. The two later married in 1998, and had two children, but divorced in 2005.
- GoofsWhen Vincent is confessing to Irene, he tells her he doesn't have 20 or 30 years, his heart is already 10,000 beats overdue. In an average male this would only be about 2 1/2 hours, not several years as the story suggests.
- Crazy creditsAll instances of the letters A, C, G, and T (representing the four nucleotides of DNA -- see trivia entry) are emphasized in almost all names of people and companies credited in the film. These letters appear in a different typeface from the rest of the name; also, in the opening credits they appear onscreen a little before the rest of the name, while in the closing credits they appear in blue instead of white.
- Alternate versionsThe DVD contains deleted footage not included in the the theatrical release:
- The original version of the "Eight Day Center" scene. Here the doctor offers Vincent's parents the possibility to further enhance the future Anton, charging $5,000. This is refused by both of them.
- A briefing about the upcoming mission done by Director Josef. He is interrupted by Irene who tells him that the investigators wish to start their testing on all members of Gattaca.
- Detective Hugo exposes Anton to be Vincent's brother.
- Caesar tells Vincent to put the books away and accept his life.
- Shortly before Vincent leaves for Titan, he visits Caesar and gives him a telescope.
- A short sequence which shows some famous people who may had not been born if science had decrypted the human DNA sooner: Abraham Lincoln (Marfan's Syndrome), Emily Dickinson (Manic Depression), Vincent van Gogh (Epilepsy), Albert Einstein (Dyslexia), John F. Kennedy (Addison's Disease), Rita Hayworth (Alzheimer's Disease), Ray Charles (Primary Glaucoma), Stephen Hawking (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and Jackie Joyner (Asthma). The last sentence is: "Of course, the other birth that may never have taken place is your own."
- Also included is an outtake where Dr. Lamar drinks one of the "urine" samples.
- SoundtracksNuages
Music by Django Reinhardt
Featured review
I'll be frank here, I've never really been a fan of most science fiction films as the whole genre isn't really my personal cup of tea. That being said, if someone is to utilize any given genre with a unique story that has never been tackled before, then my curiosity will be peeked. One example that comes to mind is definitely Andrew Niccol's Gattaca, one of the most original and provocative sci-fi features ever constructed. It's funny how this film is often known to be his best film to date, mainly because it wasn't a big hit when it initially came out; in fact it was a box office flop. However, it has since gained a massive cult following, and I can say that I am definitely apart of it.
Set in the not too distant future where people are judged based on their genetic structure, the film centers around Vincent Freeman, who's lifelong dream is to travel into outer space in spite of his genetic disabilities. Regardless, he decides to obtain the proper genes of former engineer Jerome Morrow and soon joins the Gattaca space program. Over there, he falls in love with Irene Cassini while the death of an officer ends up conflicting with his plans. It's really interesting how the film tackles themes of prejudice and the underdog making it to the top by putting its emphasis on the genetically superior and inferior. One could imagine that if science had dominated the future, there would be easier methods of discovering one's genes, but that could also lead to the fate of those who aren't so lucky. At its core, Gattaca is a story about following your dreams in spite of any disabilities you may have.
When it comes to the characters, Vincent is very sympathetic but also fallible when it comes to how much he desires his dreams. He knows that it could only be a matter of time before he is exposed, yet we still relate to how much turmoil he went through just to get to where he is. In addition, Irene happens to have a serious heart condition which makes her worse off than Vincent, but that only makes their relationship more heartwarming. The better way to obtain pure happiness is to seek it through those who are not too different from you. Also, Jerome is a really good representation of those who never made it to where they wanted, which in turn creates a really dynamic contrast between his pessimism and Vincent's optimism. I won't say much about the other characters as that would spoil the fun, but they're either wonderful supporters or challenging obstacles that could either make or break Vincent.
Lastly, I think what makes this film resonate with me so much is how it comments on the general idea of a future run by perfection through genetic engineering. More often than not, people will assume that having your offspring taken care of by science and advanced medicine will be the only way to make them perfect, but if they're already well off, then there isn't anything to them outside of that. However, when one is not on the same level of health as other individuals, that could either lead to them playing it safe in their already mundane life or actually taking a risk with their limitations. If the underdog geniuses stayed where they were, we would never have the likes of Albert Einstein, Hellen Keller, Stephen Hawking, Ray Charles, Franklin D Roosevelt and Marlee Matlin among many others. Don't let scientific testing dictate your life if you believe there is more to you than society says otherwise, because then the world will know that you're trying to make a difference.
In conclusion, Gattaca could very well be one of the most thought provoking and motivational sci-fi flicks ever crafted. In addition to having a highly memorable cast of characters and creative concepts, its commentary on futuristic humankind is the glue that holds its intellect together. Even though the film does have a strong cult following, it could still use more love and affection. Therefore, I deem this a must watch for any one who's into science-fiction or social allegories. In fact, I would even say that this is a wonderful choice for anybody who is considered "imperfect" by society's standards. As someone who is developmentally flawed as myself, I can safely that even if you might not have the same conditions as Vincent Freeman, you will definitely gravitate towards other aspects worth seeing.
Set in the not too distant future where people are judged based on their genetic structure, the film centers around Vincent Freeman, who's lifelong dream is to travel into outer space in spite of his genetic disabilities. Regardless, he decides to obtain the proper genes of former engineer Jerome Morrow and soon joins the Gattaca space program. Over there, he falls in love with Irene Cassini while the death of an officer ends up conflicting with his plans. It's really interesting how the film tackles themes of prejudice and the underdog making it to the top by putting its emphasis on the genetically superior and inferior. One could imagine that if science had dominated the future, there would be easier methods of discovering one's genes, but that could also lead to the fate of those who aren't so lucky. At its core, Gattaca is a story about following your dreams in spite of any disabilities you may have.
When it comes to the characters, Vincent is very sympathetic but also fallible when it comes to how much he desires his dreams. He knows that it could only be a matter of time before he is exposed, yet we still relate to how much turmoil he went through just to get to where he is. In addition, Irene happens to have a serious heart condition which makes her worse off than Vincent, but that only makes their relationship more heartwarming. The better way to obtain pure happiness is to seek it through those who are not too different from you. Also, Jerome is a really good representation of those who never made it to where they wanted, which in turn creates a really dynamic contrast between his pessimism and Vincent's optimism. I won't say much about the other characters as that would spoil the fun, but they're either wonderful supporters or challenging obstacles that could either make or break Vincent.
Lastly, I think what makes this film resonate with me so much is how it comments on the general idea of a future run by perfection through genetic engineering. More often than not, people will assume that having your offspring taken care of by science and advanced medicine will be the only way to make them perfect, but if they're already well off, then there isn't anything to them outside of that. However, when one is not on the same level of health as other individuals, that could either lead to them playing it safe in their already mundane life or actually taking a risk with their limitations. If the underdog geniuses stayed where they were, we would never have the likes of Albert Einstein, Hellen Keller, Stephen Hawking, Ray Charles, Franklin D Roosevelt and Marlee Matlin among many others. Don't let scientific testing dictate your life if you believe there is more to you than society says otherwise, because then the world will know that you're trying to make a difference.
In conclusion, Gattaca could very well be one of the most thought provoking and motivational sci-fi flicks ever crafted. In addition to having a highly memorable cast of characters and creative concepts, its commentary on futuristic humankind is the glue that holds its intellect together. Even though the film does have a strong cult following, it could still use more love and affection. Therefore, I deem this a must watch for any one who's into science-fiction or social allegories. In fact, I would even say that this is a wonderful choice for anybody who is considered "imperfect" by society's standards. As someone who is developmentally flawed as myself, I can safely that even if you might not have the same conditions as Vincent Freeman, you will definitely gravitate towards other aspects worth seeing.
- elicopperman
- Feb 8, 2019
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Gattaca: Experimento genético
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $36,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $12,532,777
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,320,202
- Oct 26, 1997
- Gross worldwide
- $12,533,504
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content