The concept of “there is no perfection in humans” is known and accepted. However, the 1997 dystopian sci-fi movie, Gattaca, portrays how humans can be designed to be perfect. It also explores how their destinies can be determined only if they are created through reproductive technologies that make eugenics possible. More than anything, Gattaca leaves room for a future printed in everyone’s DNA — something so beautiful, yet terrifying.
Despite the movie’s powerful concept, Gattaca was overshadowed by louder and flashier blockbusters. But then, time passed, and technology brought humans closer to ‘genetic modification.’ Suddenly, the film felt disturbingly prophetic, building curiosity in the movie.
‘Gattaca’ Ditched Gadgets and Dove Head-first Into Genes
At the time when sci-fi movies were deeply rooted in the concepts of alien invasions and high-tech battles, Gattaca took a different route. It focused on blood, genetics, and one of the cores of humanity — DNA. Abandoning fancy gadgets for a focus on genetics was largely unlike anything audiences had seen at the time. In Gattaca, the concept that ‘a child conceived in love has a greater chance of happiness’ is far from reality. Instead, through its lens, viewers see that people born through genetic editing have happier lives. They turn out great, everything about their lives is designed to be perfect, and their fate is known even before their birth.
Gattaca is fiction, but its precision in reflecting today’s world feels disturbingly accurate. Although the world has not turned its back on people born naturally, nor does it call them “in-valids,” the tools to screen embryos for certain traits already exist. In the movie, after conceiving Vincent naturally, his parents (Loren Dean and Jayne Brook), choose to genetically engineer their second child, Anton. They choose his sex, hair color, height, and even mental state. However, Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), born through natural means, had to fight for almost everything he ever had — from his health to his dreams. As an “in-valid,” he failed to get meaningful employment, and society defines him based on his genes rather than his abilities or qualifications. His father, Antonio, had to remind him that if he were to get anywhere close to a spaceship, as he dreams, it would only be as a cleaner. That was the fate of every “in-valid” — every human born the natural way, without genetic engineering.
Before Bioethics Was Popular, ‘Gattaca’ Saw It Coming
Before “DNA privacy” became a topic at TED Talks and bioethics panels, Gattaca gave a glimpse into a plausible future with genetic profiling. Today, questions have been raised about whether genetic data should influence employment or shape the deeper meaning of who a person is. Back in 1997, Gattaca raised these questions, especially in Vincent’s life, where he was viewed as a weaker man and his destiny hung in the balance. But he resisted the system and faked his identity, worked harder than his DNA predicted, and won their childhood swimming contests — a dangerous game of chicken — against his “valid” brother. It was a defining moment where he not only won against a valid man but against society’s hunger for perfection.
Gattaca subtly predicted a future obsessed with human perfection, not authenticity. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. It focuses on improving everything in a manner that doesn’t allow human error. Then comes the bigger question: what happens next? What if humans and society are free from error? In any case, the world continues to shift to topics about selective embryos and digital surveillance, thereby making Gattaca relevant, relatable, and consumingly scary.
This Andrew Niccol Film Faced Fierce Competition and Fell Under the Radar
Despite being called “one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas” by film critic Roger Ebert, Gattaca fought for a place to be recognised and appreciated. It was released the same year as box office juggernauts, Titanic, Men in Black, and Face/Off. Shortly before it hit theaters, L. A Confidential, The Game, and In & Out were released and were highly rated, making Gattaca‘s battle to gain attention fierce. This is largely due to its non-conventional theme centered around human genes and societal engineering; at the time, action-heavy and spectacle-driven movies were more recognized.
With a $36 million budget, Gattaca lacked the extensive marketing that boosted many high-budget films. This led to its quiet release, causing it to be overshadowed by louder movies. Yet, the movie later gained recognition and a cult classic status for its visionary themes, aging better than many movies that performed better than it did. Thanks to its timeless exploration of identity, ethics, and destiny, Gattaca has gained recognition it deserved over time.
To watch Ethan Hawke defy his genetic destiny, Gattaca is currently available to stream on Apple TV+.
