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{{short description|1997 film by Andrew Niccol}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Gattaca | name = Gattaca
| image = Gataca Movie Poster B.jpg | image = Gattaca poster.jpg
| image_size = 215px
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ]<br />]<br />]<br />] | producer = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| writer = Andrew Niccol | writer = Andrew Niccol
| narrator = ] | starring = {{Plainlist|
| starring = Ethan Hawke<br />] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = ] | editing = ]
| studio = Jersey Films | studio = {{Plainlist|
| distributor = ] * ]
* ]
| released = {{Film date|1997|10|24}}
}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| distributor = ]
| released = {{Film date|1997|10|24|United States}}
| runtime = 112 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/gattaca-film|title=''Gattaca'' (15)|publisher=]|date=November 5, 1997|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221232655/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/gattaca-film|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = {{Plainlist|
* English
* Esperanto
| budget = $36 million
}}
| gross = $12,532,777
| budget = $36 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gattaca|title=Gattaca Financial Information|work=]|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406000039/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gattaca|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross = $12.5 million (domestic only)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gattaca.htm|title=Gattaca (1997)|website=]|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2019-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609002105/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gattaca.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
}} }}
'''''Gattaca''''' is a 1997 ] written and directed by ]. It stars ] and ], with ], ], ], ], and ] appearing in supporting roles.


The film presents a ] vision of a future society driven by ] where potential children are selected through ] to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neuroethics.upenn.edu/narrative_perspec.html |title=NEUROETHICS &#124; The Narrative Perspectives |publisher=Neuroethics.upenn.edu |accessdate=2008-11-28 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080531123956/http://neuroethics.upenn.edu/narrative_perspec.html |archivedate = 2008-05-31}}</ref> A genetic registry database uses ] to instantly identify and classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived by traditional means are derisively known as "in-valids". While ] is forbidden by law, in practice it is easy to profile a person's ] resulting in the valids qualifying for professional employment while the in-valids—considered more susceptible to disease, educational dysfunction and shorter lifespans—are relegated to menial jobs. '''''Gattaca''''' is a 1997 American ] ] written and directed by ] in his ]. It stars ] and ] with ], ], ], ], and ] appearing in supporting roles.<ref name=challenging /> The film presents a future society driven by ] where children are conceived through genetic selection to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://neuroethics.upenn.edu/resources/narrative-perspectives-neuroethics-in-books-and-film/ |title=NEUROETHICS &#124; The Narrative Perspectives |publisher=Neuroethics.upenn.edu |access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref> The film centers on Vincent Freeman, played by Hawke, who was conceived outside the eugenics program and struggles to overcome ] to realize his dream of going into space.


The movie draws on concerns over ] which facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. It also explores the idea of ] and the ways in which it can and does govern lives. Characters in ''Gattaca'' continually battle both with society and with themselves to find their place in the world and who they are destined to be according to their genes. Gattaca is the name of the space agency in the film. The name is based on the first letters of ], ], ], and ], the four ]s of ]. The film was a 1997 nominee for the ] and the ]. The film draws on concerns over ] that facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. It also explores the idea of ] and the ways in which it can and does govern lives. Characters in ''Gattaca'' continually battle both with society and with themselves to find their place in the world and who they are destined to be according to their genes.

The film's title is based on the letters G, A, T, and C, which stand for ], ], ], and ], the four ]s of ]. It was a 1997 nominee for the ] for ] and the ]. A follow-up series was in development at ], but has been cancelled as of 2023.<ref name="White">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=June 29, 2023 |title='Gattaca' Series Adaptation & Mandy Patinkin Comedy 'Seasoned' Scrapped At Showtime Along With Two Development Projects |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/gattaca-series-mandy-patinkin-comedy-seasoned-scrapped-showtime-1235427279/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=] |archive-date=September 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907150929/https://deadline.com/2023/06/gattaca-series-mandy-patinkin-comedy-seasoned-scrapped-showtime-1235427279/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Plot== ==Plot==
In the "not-too-distant" future, ] is common. A genetic registry database uses ] to classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived naturally and more susceptible to genetic disorders are known as "in-valids". ] is illegal, but in practice ] profiling is used to identify valids to qualify for professional employment while in-valids are relegated to menial jobs.
In "the not-too-distant future", liberal eugenics is common and DNA plays the primary role in determining ]. Vincent Freeman is conceived and born without the aid of this technology. He has a high probability of developing mental disorders, is ], has a heart defect, and his projected life expectancy is only 30.2 years. His parents initially placed their faith in natural conception and now regret it; Vincent's younger brother, Anton, is conceived with the aid of genetic selection. Anton surpasses his older brother in many aspects including in a game that they call "]": both swim out to sea, and the first to give up and swim back to shore is the loser. Anton always wins due to his superior physical stamina. Vincent dreams of a career in space but is constantly reminded of his genetic inferiority. Later as young adults Vincent challenges Anton to the game of chicken. This time it is Vincent who pulls ahead while Anton runs into trouble and begins to drown. Vincent saves him, then leaves home shortly thereafter.

Vincent Freeman was conceived naturally, and his genetic profile indicates a high probability of several disorders and an estimated lifespan of 30.2 years. His parents, regretting their decision, use genetic selection in conceiving their second child, Anton Jr. Growing up, the two brothers often play a game of "]" by swimming out to sea as far as possible, with the first one returning to shore considered the loser; Vincent always loses. Vincent dreams of a career in space travel, but is always reminded of his genetic inferiority. One day, Vincent challenges Anton to a game of chicken and beats him. Anton starts to drown and is saved by Vincent. Shortly after, Vincent leaves home.


Due to frequent screening, Vincent faces ] and prejudice. The only way he can achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut is to become a "borrowed ladder", a person who impersonates a "valid" with a superior genetic profile.<ref name=metrotimes/> He assumes the identity of Jerome Eugene Morrow, a former swimming star with a genetic profile "second to none", who had been injured in a car accident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Vincent "buys" Jerome's moustache and uses his "valid" DNA in blood, hair, tissue, and urine samples to pass screening. To keep his identity hidden, he must meticulously groom and scrub down daily to remove his own genetic material. Years later, Vincent works cleaning office spaces, including that of spaceflight conglomerate Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. He gets a chance to pose as a valid by using donated hair, skin, blood, and urine samples from former swimming star Jerome Eugene Morrow, who was paralyzed after being hit by a car. With Jerome's genetic makeup, Vincent gains employment at Gattaca and is assigned as a navigator for an upcoming mission to Saturn's moon ]. To conceal his identity, Vincent must meticulously groom and scrub down daily to remove his own genetic material, pass daily DNA scanning and urine tests using Jerome's samples, and hide his heart defect.
With Jerome's genetic profile Vincent gets accepted into the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, the most prestigious spaceflight conglomerate, with a DNA test being the entire interview process. He becomes Gattaca's top celestial navigator and is selected for a manned spaceflight to Saturn's moon ]. A week before Vincent is to leave on the one-year mission, one of Gattaca's administrators is found bludgeoned to death in his office. Police discover an eyelash of the real Vincent on the premises, making him the prime suspect. A paper cup used by Vincent is also found after he gave it to Caesar the cleaner.


When a Gattaca administrator is murdered a week before a ], the police find one of Vincent's eyelashes near the crime scene, but can only identify it as from an "unregistered" in-valid, and thus launch an investigation to find who owns the eyelash. During this, Vincent becomes close to a co-worker, Irene Cassini, and falls in love with her. Though a valid, Irene has a higher risk of heart failure that will bar her from any deep space mission. Vincent also learns that Jerome's paralysis is self-inflicted; after placing ] in the Olympics, Jerome threw himself in front of a car. Jerome maintains that he was designed to be the best, yet somehow wasn't, and is suffering because of this.
Vincent must evade increasing security measures as his launch date approaches. Simultaneously, he becomes close to one of his co-workers, Irene Cassini. Although she is a "valid", Irene knows she will only ever be picked for lesser missions due to slightly elevated risk of heart failure. Romantically attracted to Vincent, she clandestinely has what she thinks is his DNA analyzed. The results confirm that he is out of her league, leaving her wistful, but Vincent makes it plain that he does not care about her genetics. Jerome (generally known as Eugene) also suffers from the burden of his genetic perfection; when he won only a ] in an important competition, he became increasingly depressed. While intoxicated, Jerome confesses that he did not have a car accident, but rather, had attempted suicide by jumping in front of a car, but only paralyzed himself from the waist down.


After numerous close calls, Vincent's identity is revealed to a shocked Irene. Yet Irene comes to see Vincent for who he is and accepts him. The murder investigation abruptly comes to a close with Mission Director Josef under arrest. The director reveals that he murdered the administrator because the victim was trying to cancel the Titan mission. As Vincent appears to be in the clear he is confronted by the youthful chief detective, who is revealed to be Anton. Anton accuses Vincent of fraud and asserts that Vincent is unworthy of his place at Gattaca. Vincent reminds Anton of how he has made it thus far solo and that it was Anton who needed saving before, not himself. Having rationalized the competition he lost, Anton challenges Vincent again. They swim out, where Anton asks Vincent how he beat him before. Vincent explains that he never saved anything for the swim back. Anton turns back first and Vincent, again, must rescue him from drowning. Vincent repeatedly evades the grasp of the investigation. Finally, it is revealed that Gattaca's mission director Josef killed the administrator because he threatened to cancel the mission. Vincent learns that the detective who closed the case was his brother Anton, who consequently has discovered Vincent's presence. The brothers meet, and Anton warns Vincent about his illegal actions, but Vincent asserts that he has gotten to this position on his own merits. Anton challenges Vincent to a final game of chicken. As the two swim out at night, Vincent's stamina surprises Anton, so Vincent reveals that he won by not saving energy for the swim back. Anton turns back and begins to drown, but Vincent rescues him and swims them back to shore.


As the day of the launch arrives, Jerome bids Vincent farewell. He reveals that he has stored enough genetic samples to last Vincent two lifetimes. Overwhelmed and grateful, Vincent thanks Jerome, but Jerome replies that it is he who should be grateful, since Vincent lent Jerome his dreams. Jerome gives Vincent a card but asks him not to open it until he reaches space. As Vincent moves through the Gattaca complex to the launch site, he is stopped for an unexpected last urine test. Vincent has not brought Jerome's fluids as he assumed there would be no more tests. The urine analysis uncovers Vincent's identity. However, the unperturbed Dr. Lamar, who for years has been asking Vincent during physical exams if he ever told Vincent the story of his own son, once again asks and this time goes on to tell it: His son admires Vincent and wants to be an astronaut despite a genetic defect that would rule him out. Lamar resets the test result, and tells Vincent to make his flight. On the day of the launch, Jerome reveals that he has stored enough DNA samples for Vincent to last two lifetimes upon his return and gives him an envelope to open once in flight. After saying goodbye to Irene, Vincent prepares to board, but discovers there is a final genetic test, and he currently lacks any of Jerome's samples. He is surprised when Dr. Lamar, who oversees background checks, reveals that he knows Vincent has been posing as a valid. Lamar admits that his son looks up to Vincent and wonders whether his son, who is genetically selected, but "not all that they promised", could exceed his potential just as Vincent has. The doctor changes the test results, allowing Vincent to pass.


As the rocket launches, Jerome dons his swimming medal and ] himself in his home's incinerator. Vincent opens the note to find a lock of Jerome's hair.
Jerome climbs inside his home ], puts on his silver medal and lights the fire. The rocket lifts off with Vincent, and he opens the card from Jerome to find no words—just a hair sample. He is saddened to leave, despite never having a place in the world. He muses, "They say every atom in our bodies was once a part of a star. Maybe I'm not leaving; maybe I'm going home."


==Cast== ==Cast==
{{div col|colwidth = 25em}}
* ] as Vincent Anton Freeman/Jerome Eugene Morrow
* ] as Vincent Freeman, impersonating Jerome Eugene Morrow
** ] as young Vincent ** ] as young Vincent
** Chad Christ as teenage Vincent ** Chad Christ as teenage Vincent
Line 55: Line 74:
* ] as Marie Freeman * ] as Marie Freeman
* ] as Antonio Freeman * ] as Antonio Freeman
* ] as Delivery nurse * ] as delivery nurse
* ] as Geneticist * ] as geneticist
* ] as Caesar * ] as Caesar
* ] as German * ] as German
* ] as Detective Hugo * ] as Detective Hugo
* ] as Cop on the Beat * ] as cop on the beat
* ] as Sequencing technician * ] as sequencing technician
* ] as Cavendish * Cynthia Martells as Cavendish
* ] as Gattaca trainer
{{div col end}}


==Production== ==Production==
] complex]] ] complex]]
]]] ]]]
The film was shot under the working title ''The Eighth Day'', a reference to the seven days of creation in the Bible. However, by the time its release was scheduled for the fall of 1997, the Belgian film {{lang|fr|Le huitième jour|italic=yes}} had already been released in the US under the title '']''. As a result, the film was retitled ''Gattaca'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/gattaca-on-hulu/|title=Gattaca on Hulu|work=Slashfilm|date=28 November 2008|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030203418/https://www.slashfilm.com/gattaca-on-hulu/|url-status=live}}</ref> which takes inspiration from the letters G, A, T, and C, derived from four of the ] of ]: ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/science/11gene.html |title=Now: The Rest of the Genome |first=Carl |last=Zimmer |date=November 10, 2008 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602141000/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/science/11gene.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The exteriors (including the roof scene), and some of the interior shots, of the Gattaca complex were filmed at ]'s 1960 ] in ].<ref name=sfgate/> The parking lot scenes were shot at the ], distinguished by its punchcard-like windows, located near ] in ]. The exterior of Vincent Freeman's house was shot at the ] on the campus of ] (Cal Poly Pomona). Another exterior shot was done at the bottom of the spillway of the ]. The solar power plant mirrors sequence was filmed at the ].

===Filming===
The exteriors (including the roof scene) and some of the interior shots of the Gattaca complex were filmed at ]'s 1960 ] in ].<ref name=sfgate /> The speakers in the complex broadcast announcements in both ] and English; Miko Sloper from the ] went to the recording studio to handle the Esperanto part.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tRJF2EhWtz0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/tRJF2EhWtz0| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title = Esperanto in 'Gattaca' (NPR pt 11, NASK 2000 pt 19)|website=] |date=2 June 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>


===Design=== ===Design===
The film borrows many design and thematic ideas from the ] genre,<ref name=challenging/> making the film a notable example of ]. The movie uses a swimming treadmill in the opening minutes to punctuate the swimming and futuristic themes.<ref name=endless/> The futuristic ] are based on 1960s car models like ], ] and ],<ref name=turbinecars/> and futuristic buildings represent ] of the 1950s. The movie uses a swimming treadmill in the opening minutes to punctuate the swimming and futuristic themes.<ref name=endless /> The production design makes heavy use of ]; the futuristic electric cars<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avanti in the Science Fiction Film Gattaca|url=https://www.theavanti.com/gattaca.html|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.theavanti.com|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112043154/https://www.theavanti.com/gattaca.html|url-status=live}}</ref> are based on 1960s car models like ], ] and ].<ref name=turbinecars />

=== Title sequence ===
The opening title sequence, created by Michael Riley, features closeups of body matter (fingernails and hair), which are later revealed to be from Vincent's daily bodily scourings, hitting the floor accompanied by loud sounds as the objects strike the ground. According to Riley, oversized models of the fingernails and hair were created for the effect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://watchthetitles.com/articles/00114-Gattaca|title=Gattaca title sequence - Watch the Titles|last=Vlaanderen|first=Remco|website=watchthetitles.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-11|archive-date=2018-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011133518/http://watchthetitles.com/articles/00114-Gattaca|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Music and soundtrack==
{{Expand section|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox album
| name = Gattaca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type = soundtrack
| artist = ]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{start date|1997|10|21}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = ], ], ]
| length = 54:55
| label = ]
| producer = Michael Nyman
| prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1998
}}
{{Listen
| filename = Michael_Nyman-Gattaca-The_Other_Side.ogg
| title = The Other Side
| description = From the ''Gattaca'' soundtrack by ]
| format = ]
}}
The ] for ''Gattaca'' was composed by ], and the original soundtrack was released on October 21, 1997.<ref name=allmusic />


==Release== ==Release==

''Gattaca'' was released in theaters on October 24, 1997, and opened at number 5 at the box office; trailing '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name=thenumbersweekend/> Over the first weekend the film brought in $4.3 million. It ended its theatrical run with a domestic total of $12.5 million against a reported production budget of $36 million.<ref name=thenumbers/>
===Box office===
''Gattaca'' was released in theaters on October 24, 1997, in the United States by ] and opened at number 5 at the box office; trailing '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref name=thenumbersweekend /> Over the first weekend the film brought in $4.3 million. It ended its theatrical run with a domestic total of $12.5 million against a reported production budget of $36 million.<ref name=thenumbers />


===Home media=== ===Home media===
''Gattaca'' was released on DVD on July 1, 1998,<ref>{{cite book |title=Amazon.com: ''Gattaca'' (1997) |isbn=0767805712 }}</ref> and was also released on ] DVD.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005R23Z |title=Amazon.com: ''Gattaca'' (Superbit Collection) (1997) |website=Amazon |access-date=April 7, 2013 }}</ref> Special Edition DVD and ] versions were released on March 11, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011UF79C |title=Amazon.com: ''Gattaca'' (Special Edition) (1997) |website=Amazon |access-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HEVZ6W |title=Amazon.com: ''Gattaca'' (1997) |website=Amazon |access-date=April 7, 2013 }}</ref> Both editions contain a deleted scene featuring historical figures like Einstein, Lincoln, etc., who are described as having been genetically deficient.<ref name=thenumbers />
''Gattaca'' was released on DVD on July 1, 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0767805712|title=Amazon.com: Gattaca (1997)|publisher=]|accessdate=April 23, 2011}}</ref> and was also released on ] DVD.<ref>{{cite web

| url = http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005R23Z
''Gattaca'' was released on ] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gattaca – Media Play News|date=25 March 2021|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/gattaca-review/|access-date=2021-04-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413042235/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/gattaca-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| title = Amazon.com: Gattaca (Superbit Collection) (1997)
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = April 7, 2013
}}</ref> Special Edition DVD and ] versions were released on March 11, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011UF79C|title=Amazon.com: Gattaca (Special Edition) (1997)|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HEVZ6W|title=Amazon.com: Gattaca (1997)|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> Both editions contain a deleted scene featuring historical figures like Einstein, Lincoln, etc., who according to the texts are supposed to be genetically deficient.<ref name=thenumbers/>


==Reception==
==Critical reception==
''Gattaca'' received positive reviews from critics; the film received an 82% "fresh" rating from ], based on 55 reviews, with a ] of 7.1/10.<ref name=rt/> On ], the film received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 64 out of 100.<ref name="metacritic"/> ] stated, "This is one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas."<ref name=ebert/> ] praised it for "energy and tautness" and its "thought-provoking script and thematic richness."<ref name=reelviews/>


===Critical response===
Despite critical acclaim, ''Gattaca'' was not a box office success but it is said to have crystallized the debate over tampering with ].<ref name=brown/><ref name=darnovsky/><ref name=popemcroberts/> The film's ]n depiction of "]" has been cited by many ]s and laymen in support of their hesitancy about, or opposition to, liberal eugenics and the societal acceptance of the ] ideology that may frame it.<ref name=kirby/> In a 1997 review of the film for the journal ''Nature Genetics'', molecular biologist ] stated that "''Gattaca'' is a film that all geneticists should see if for no other reason than to understand the perception of our trade held by so many of the public-at-large".<ref name=silver/>
''Gattaca'' received positive reviews from critics. The film received an approval rating of 82% on ] based on 66 reviews, with a rating average of 7.1/10. The site's critical consensus states that "Intelligent and scientifically provocative, ''Gattaca'' is an absorbing sci-fi drama that poses important interesting ethical questions about the nature of science."<ref name=rt /> On ], the film received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 64 out of 100, based on 20 reviews.<ref name="metacritic" /> ] gave the film two thumbs up on the October 25, 1997 episode of their program, with ] commenting that the film had a "smart script".<ref>{{cite book |last1= Ebert |first1= Roger |last2= Siskel |first2= Gene |title= Gattaca/The House of Yes/A Life Less Ordinary/FairyTale: A True Story/Sunday |date= 25 October 1997 |publisher= Buena Vista Television }}</ref> In his other review for the '']'', ] stated, "This is one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas."<ref name=ebert /> ] praised it for "energy and tautness" and its "thought-provoking script and thematic richness."<ref name=reelviews />


Although critically acclaimed, ''Gattaca'' was not a box office success, but it is said to have crystallized the debate over the controversial topic of ].<ref name="darnovsky" /><ref name=popemcroberts /> The film's ]n depiction of "]" has been cited by many ]s and laypeople in support of their hesitancy about, or opposition to, eugenics and the societal acceptance of the ] ideology that may frame it.<ref name="kirby" /> In a 1997 review of the film for the journal ''Nature Genetics'', molecular biologist ] stated that "''Gattaca'' is a film that all geneticists should see if for no other reason than to understand the perception of our trade held by so many of the public-at-large".<ref name="silver" />
In 2004, ] ] criticized the premise and influence of the film ''Gattaca'',<ref name=hughes/> arguing that:
# Astronaut-training programs are entirely justified in attempting to screen out people with heart problems for safety reasons
# In the United States, people are already discriminated against by insurance companies on the basis of their propensities to disease despite the fact that genetic enhancement is not yet available
# Rather than banning genetic testing or genetic enhancement, society needs genetic information privacy laws that allow justified forms of genetic testing and data aggregation, but forbid those that are judged to result in genetic discrimination (such as the U.S. ] signed into law on May 21, 2008). Citizens should then be able to make a complaint to the appropriate authority if they believe they have been discriminated against because of their genotype.


===Accolades=== ===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Awards
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! Award ! Award
! Category ! Category
! Recipient
! Name
! Outcome ! Result
|- |-
|rowspan=1|''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| ]<br>Nancy Nye | ]<br />Nancy Nye
| {{Nom}} | {{Nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| Jan Roelfs<br>Sarah Knowles<br>Natalie Richards | ]<br />Sarah Knowles<br />Natalie Richards
| {{Nom}} | {{Nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | Bogey Awards
|colspan=2|Bogey Award |Bogey Award
|
|{{won}} |{{won}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=2| ''']''' |rowspan=2| ]
| Special Jury Prize | Special Jury Prize
|rowspan=2|] |rowspan=2|]
Line 125: Line 174:
|{{won}} |{{won}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| {{nom}} | {{Nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| Andrew Niccol |rowspan=2| Andrew Niccol
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| Andrew Niccol
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
| Paris Film Festival | Paris Film Festival
|colspan=2|Grand Prix | Grand Prix
|
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=1| ''']''' | ]
| ] | ]
| Jan Roelfs | Jan Roelfs
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=3| ''']''' |rowspan=3| ]
| ] | ]
| Coleen Atwood | ]
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
Line 158: Line 207:
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
|colspan=2|Best Home Video Release | Best Home Video Release
|
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
|style="border-top:10px black" rowspan=2| ''']''' |rowspan=2| ]
| Best Motion Picture | Best Motion Picture
| Andrew Niccols | Andrew Niccol
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
Line 172: Line 222:
|} |}


==Soundtrack== ==Continuation==
On October 30, 2009, '']'' reported that ] was developing a television adaptation of the feature film as a one-hour ] set in the future. The show was to be written by Gil Grant, who has written for '']'' and '']''.<ref name="adaptation" /> A ''Gattaca'' television series was revealed to be in development at Sony and ] in March 2023. It was intended to take place one generation after the events of the film. ] and ] were tapped as ], and were also expected to serve as screenwriters alongside ]. Gordon, Gansa, Glenn Gellar, and actor ] (who produced the film) would have served as executive producers.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Andreeva |first=Nellie |date= March 15, 2023 |title='Gattaca' TV Series Based On Movie In Works At Showtime From Howard Gordon & Alex Gansa |url= https://deadline.com/2023/03/gattaca-tv-series-showtime-howard-gordon-alex-gansa-1235300890/ |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230315221724/https://deadline.com/2023/03/gattaca-tv-series-showtime-howard-gordon-alex-gansa-1235300890/ |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=]}}</ref> However, in June 2023, Showtime announced that they had abandoned plans to produce the show.<ref name="White"/>
{{Infobox album <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Gattaca
| Type = soundtrack
| Artist = ]
| Cover =
| Released = {{start date|1997|10|21}}
| Genre = ], ], ]
| Length = 54:55
| Label = ]
| Producer = Michael Nyman
| Last album = '']''<br />1997
| This album = '''''Gattaca'''''<br />1997
| Next album = '']''<br />1998
| Misc =
{{Listen
|filename=Michael_Nyman-Gattaca-The_Other_Side.ogg
|title=The Other Side
|description=From the ''Gattaca'' soundtrack by ]
|format=]}}
}}
The ] for ''Gattaca'' was composed by ], and the original soundtrack was released on October 21, 1997.<ref name=allmusic/>


==Legacy==
;Track listing<ref name=soundtrack/>
{{columns-list|2|
# "The Morrow" – 3:13
# "God's Hands" – 1:42
# "The One Moment" – 1:40
# "Traces" – 1:00
# "The Arrival" – 3:53
# "Becoming Jerome" – 1:06
# "Call Me Eugene" – 1:24
# "A Borrowed Ladder" – 1:47
# "Further and Further" – 2:43
# "Not the Only One" – 2:14
# "Second Morrow" – 2:24
# "Impromptu for 12 Fingers" – 2:55 (from ]'s "Impromptu in G-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 3")
# "The Crossing" – 1:24
# "It Must Be the Light" – 1:23
# "Only a Matter of Time" – 1:07
# "I Thought You Wanted to Dance" – 1:13
# "Irene's Theme" – 1:09
# "Yourself for the Day" – 2:20
# "Up Stairs" – 2:02
# "Now That You're Here" – 2:44
# "The Truth" – 2:13
# "The Other Side" – 3:44
# "The Departure" – 3:51
# "Irene & the Morrow" – 5:44
}}


===Influence on ''In Time''===
==Television series==
Writer-director ] has called his 2011 film '']'' a "bastard child of ''Gattaca''".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/10/in-time-gattaca/ |title=Director Calls In Time 'Bastard Child of Gattaca' |magazine=] |first=Robert |last=Capps |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815152113/https://www.wired.com/2011/10/in-time-gattaca/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a7251/in-time-andrew-niccol-on-his-gattaca-inspired-new-film-6531927/ |title=In Time: Andrew Niccol on His Gattaca-Inspired New Film |work=] |first=Eric |last=McCarthy |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815152113/https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a7251/in-time-andrew-niccol-on-his-gattaca-inspired-new-film-6531927/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both films feature classic cars in a futuristic dystopia as well as a ] privilege schism which the protagonist challenges and which prejudices the authorities into neglecting a thorough investigation in favor of condemning the protagonist.
On October 30, 2009, '']'' reported that ] was developing a television adaptation of the feature film as a one-hour ] set in the future. The show will be written by ], who has written for '']'' and '']''.<ref name=adaptation/>

===Political references===
U.S. Senator ] used near-verbatim portions of the plot summary from the ] entry on ''Gattaca'' in a speech at ] on October 28, 2013, in support of Virginia Attorney General ]'s campaign for ]. Paul said that ] are advancing eugenics in a manner similar to the events in ''Gattaca''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/28/rand-paul-abortion-eugenics/3290839/ |title=Senator: Scientific advances could bring back eugenics |work=] |publisher=] |first=James R. |last=Carroll |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106093144/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/28/rand-paul-abortion-eugenics/3290839/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/rachel-maddow-rand-paul-wikipedia-99015.html |title=Rachel Maddow: Rand Paul ripped off Misplaced Pages |work=] |publisher=] |first=Tal |last=Kopan |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101125434/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/rachel-maddow-rand-paul-wikipedia-99015.html? |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Transhumanism===
{{Main|Transhumanism#Socioeconomic effects}}
In the 2004 ] book '']'', ] ] criticized the premise and influence of the film as fear-mongering, arguing:
# Astronaut-training programs are entirely justified in attempting to screen out people with heart problems for safety reasons;
# In the United States, people are already screened by insurance companies on the basis of their propensities to disease, for actuarial purposes;
# Rather than banning ] or genetic enhancement, society should develop ] ], such as the U.S. ] signed into law on May 21, 2008, that allow justified forms of genetic testing and data aggregation, but forbid those that are judged to result in genetic discrimination. Citizens should then be able to make a complaint to the appropriate authority if they believe they have been discriminated against because of their genotype.<ref name="hughes" />


==See also== ==See also==
* ]

* ] * ]
* ] (section "Genetic divide") * ]

{{clear}} {{clear}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs= {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=sfgate>" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107011647/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/10/24/DD14694.DTL |date=2008-01-07 }}, Mick LaSalle, '']'', Friday, October 24, 1997, URL retrieved 19 February 2009</ref>
<ref name=metrotimes>{{cite web
<ref name=challenging>{{cite web |url=http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/gattaca.htm |title=Review of Gattaca |publisher=Challengingdestiny.com |date=2004-02-25 |access-date=2009-10-10 |archive-date=2010-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305230838/http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/gattaca.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|url=http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/review.asp?id=51785
<ref name=endless>{{cite web|url=http://www.endlesspools.com/about-press.php|title=Endless Pools in the Press|publisher=Endlesspools.com|access-date=2012-09-07|archive-date=2012-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140507/http://www.endlesspools.com/about-press.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
|title=Gattaca — Movie Review
<ref name=thenumbersweekend>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/1997/19971024.php |title=US Movie Box Office Chart Weekend of October 24, 1997 |publisher=The Numbers |date=1997-10-24 |access-date=2009-10-10 |archive-date=2009-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917132916/http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/1997/19971024.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|publisher=Metro times
<ref name=thenumbers>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1997/GATTA.php |title=Movie Gattaca - Box Office Data, News, Cast Information |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=2009-10-10 |archive-date=2009-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905001559/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1997/GATTA.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|accessdate=2008-06-01
<ref name=adaptation>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/apostle-preps-for-post-rescue-life-1118010604/|title=Apostle preps for post-'Rescue' life|magazine=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106060926/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010604.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562|archive-date=2010-01-06|first=Michael|last=Schneider|date=2009-10-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
|last=
<ref name=turbinecars>{{cite web |url=http://www.imcdb.org/movie_119177-Gattaca.html |title="Gattaca, 1997": cars, bikes, trucks and other vehicles |publisher=IMCDb.org |access-date=2009-10-10 |archive-date=2010-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331201719/http://www.imcdb.org/movie_119177-Gattaca.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|first=}}</ref>
<ref name=rt>{{cite web |url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gattaca/ |title = Gattaca (1997) |access-date = 2009-08-01 |website = ] |archive-date = 2024-03-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240322010559/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gattaca |url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name=sfgate>", Mick LaSalle, '']'', Friday, October 24, 1997, URL retrieved 19th February 2009</ref>
<ref name=challenging>{{cite web|url=http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/gattaca.htm |title=Review of Gattaca |publisher=Challengingdestiny.com |date=2004-02-25 |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref> <ref name=metacritic>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gattaca |title=Gattaca reviews at |website=Metacritic.com |access-date=2011-10-05 |archive-date=2011-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128041130/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/gattaca |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name=ebert>{{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gattaca-1997 |title=Gattaca :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date=1997-10-24 |author=Roger Ebert |access-date=2022-08-07 |archive-date=2022-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807192755/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gattaca-1997 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name=endless>{{cite web|url=http://www.endlesspools.com/about-press.php|title=Endless Pools in the Press|publisher=Endlesspools.com |accessdate=2012-09-07}}</ref>
<ref name=thenumbersweekend>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/1997/19971024.php |title=US Movie Box Office Chart Weekend of October 24, 1997 |publisher=The Numbers |date=1997-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref> <ref name=reelviews>{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/g/gattaca.html |title=Review: Gattaca |publisher=Reelviews.net |access-date=2009-10-10 |archive-date=2019-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219073023/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/g/gattaca.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name=darnovsky>{{Cite web| author = Darnovsky, Marcy| title = Are We Headed for a Sci-Fi Dystopia?| date = 2008| url = https://www.alternet.org/2008/03/are_we_headed_for_a_sci-fi_dystopia/| access-date = 2022-07-30| author-link = Marcy Darnovsky| archive-date = 2022-07-31| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220731032542/https://www.alternet.org/2008/03/are_we_headed_for_a_sci-fi_dystopia/| url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=thenumbers>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1997/GATTA.php |title=Movie Gattaca - Box Office Data, News, Cast Information |publisher=The Numbers |date= |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref>
<ref name=popemcroberts>{{cite book|last1=Pope|first1= Marcia |last2=McRoberts |first2= Richard | title = Cambridge Wizard Student Guide Gattaca | publisher = Cambridge University press | date = 2003 | isbn = 0-521-53615-4}}</ref>
<ref name=adaptation>{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010604.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562|title=Apostle preps for post-'Rescue' life|publisher=www.variety.com|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20100106060926/www.variety.com/article/VR1118010604.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562|archivedate=2010-01-06 | first=Michael | last=Schneider | date=2009-10-29}}</ref>
<ref name=kirby>{{Cite journal | last1 = Kirby | first1 = D.A. | title = The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA | journal = Science Fiction Studies |volume=27 |issue=Part 2 |pages=193–215 | date = 2000 | url = http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/essays/gattaca.htm | access-date = 2008-01-08 | author-link = David A. Kirby | archive-date = 2012-03-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120327205741/http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/essays/gattaca.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name=turbinecars>{{cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/movie_119177-Gattaca.html |title="Gattaca, 1997": cars, bikes, trucks and other vehicles |publisher=IMCDb.org |date= |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref>
<ref name=silver>{{Cite journal| author = Silver, Lee M.| title = Genetics Goes to Hollywood| date = 1997| volume=17| issue=3| doi=10.1038/ng1197-260| author-link = Lee M. Silver| journal = Nature Genetics| pages = 260–261| s2cid = 29335234}}</ref>
<ref name=rt>{{cite web |url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gattaca/ |title = Gattaca (1997) |accessdate = 2009-08-01 |publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=hughes>{{cite book| last1 = Hughes |first1=James| title = Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future| publisher = Westview Press| date = 2004| isbn = 0-8133-4198-1| author-link = James Hughes (sociologist)}}</ref>
<ref name=metacritic>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/gattaca |title=Gattaca reviews at |publisher=Metacritic.com |accessdate=2011-10-05}}</ref>
<ref name=ebert>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19971024/REVIEWS/710240303/1023 |title=Gattaca :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date=1997-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref> <ref name=allmusic>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r317478|pure_url=yes}}|title=Gattaca soundtrack overview|access-date=2008-10-30|website=]}}</ref>
<!--ref name=soundtrack>{{cite web
<ref name=reelviews>{{cite web|url=http://reelviews.net/movies/g/gattaca.html |title=Review: Gattaca |publisher=Reelviews.net |date= |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref>
| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=968
<ref name=brown>{{Cite journal| author = Brown, Evan| title = Gattaca Now! The sequel to the 10-year-old classic science fiction film is in real-life science labs| year = 2007 | url = http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=3943| accessdate = 2008-08-02|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080606062629/http%3A//www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm%3Faid%3D3943 |archivedate = June 6, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref>
| title = Gattaca soundtrack
<ref name=darnovsky>{{Cite journal| author = Darnovsky, Marcy| title = Are We Headed for a Sci-Fi Dystopia?| year = 2008 | url = http://www.alternet.org/story/80151/| accessdate = 2008-03-23| authorlink = Marcy Darnovsky}}</ref>
| access-date = 2008-09-06
<ref name=popemcroberts>{{cite book| author = Pope, Marcia; McRoberts, Richard| title = Cambridge Wizard Student Guide Gattaca | publisher = Cambridge University press | year = 2003 | isbn = 0-521-53615-4}}</ref>
| publisher = SoundtrackNet, LLC}}</ref-->
<ref name=kirby>{{Cite journal| author = Kirby, D.A.| title = The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA. Science Fiction Studies, 27: 193-215.| year = 2000 | url = http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/essays/gattaca.htm| accessdate = 2008-01-08}}</ref>
<ref name=silver>{{Cite journal| author = Silver, Lee M.| title = Genetics Goes to Hollywood| year = 1997| url = http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v17/n3/pdf/ng1197-260.pdf| accessdate = 2008-01-08| volume=17| issue=3| doi=10.1038/ng1197-260| authorlink = Lee M. Silver}}</ref>
<ref name=hughes>{{cite book| author = Hughes, James| title = Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future| publisher = Westview Press| year = 2004| isbn = 0-8133-4198-1| authorlink = James Hughes (sociologist)}}</ref>
<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r317478|pure_url=yes}}|title=Gattaca soundtrack overview|accessdate=2008-10-30|publisher=]}}</ref>
<ref name=soundtrack>{{cite web
|url=http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=968
|title=Gattaca soundtrack
|accessdate=2008-09-06
|publisher=SoundtrackNet, LLC}}</ref>
}} }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Frauley |first=Jon |date=2010 |title=Criminology, Deviance and the Silver Screen: The Fictional Reality and the Criminological Imagination |chapter=Biopolitics and the Governance of Genetic Capital in ''GATTACA'' |location=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |pages=195–216 |isbn=978-0230615168 |doi=10.1057/9780230115361_7}}
* .


==External links== ==External links==
{{wikiquote}} {{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/gattaca/}} * {{Official website|http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/gattaca/}}
* on ]
* {{IMDb title|0119177|Gattaca}} * {{IMDb title|0119177|Gattaca}}
* {{allrovi movie|158677|Gattaca}} * {{Mojo title|gattaca|Gattaca}}
* {{mojo title|gattaca|Gattaca}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|gattaca|Gattaca}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|gattaca|Gattaca}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Gattaca}}
*
* {{metacritic film|gattaca|Gattaca}}
*
* *


{{Andrew Niccol}} {{Andrew Niccol}}
{{Danny DeVito}}

<!--- named one of top 10 Transhumanist films in http://hplusmagazine.com/2010/11/08/top-ten-transhumanist-movies/ --->
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gattaca}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gattaca}}
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Latest revision as of 22:06, 21 December 2024

1997 film by Andrew Niccol
Gattaca
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Niccol
Written byAndrew Niccol
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySławomir Idziak
Edited byLisa Zeno Churgin
Music byMichael Nyman
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • October 24, 1997 (1997-10-24) (United States)
Running time112 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Esperanto
Budget$36 million
Box office$12.5 million (domestic only)

Gattaca is a 1997 American dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol in his feature directorial debut. It stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman with Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal, and Alan Arkin appearing in supporting roles. The film presents a future society driven by eugenics where children are conceived through genetic selection to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. The film centers on Vincent Freeman, played by Hawke, who was conceived outside the eugenics program and struggles to overcome genetic discrimination to realize his dream of going into space.

The film draws on concerns over reproductive technologies that facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. It also explores the idea of destiny and the ways in which it can and does govern lives. Characters in Gattaca continually battle both with society and with themselves to find their place in the world and who they are destined to be according to their genes.

The film's title is based on the letters G, A, T, and C, which stand for guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine, the four nucleobases of DNA. It was a 1997 nominee for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. A follow-up series was in development at Showtime, but has been cancelled as of 2023.

Plot

In the "not-too-distant" future, eugenics is common. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived naturally and more susceptible to genetic disorders are known as "in-valids". Genetic discrimination is illegal, but in practice genotype profiling is used to identify valids to qualify for professional employment while in-valids are relegated to menial jobs.

Vincent Freeman was conceived naturally, and his genetic profile indicates a high probability of several disorders and an estimated lifespan of 30.2 years. His parents, regretting their decision, use genetic selection in conceiving their second child, Anton Jr. Growing up, the two brothers often play a game of "chicken" by swimming out to sea as far as possible, with the first one returning to shore considered the loser; Vincent always loses. Vincent dreams of a career in space travel, but is always reminded of his genetic inferiority. One day, Vincent challenges Anton to a game of chicken and beats him. Anton starts to drown and is saved by Vincent. Shortly after, Vincent leaves home.

Years later, Vincent works cleaning office spaces, including that of spaceflight conglomerate Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. He gets a chance to pose as a valid by using donated hair, skin, blood, and urine samples from former swimming star Jerome Eugene Morrow, who was paralyzed after being hit by a car. With Jerome's genetic makeup, Vincent gains employment at Gattaca and is assigned as a navigator for an upcoming mission to Saturn's moon Titan. To conceal his identity, Vincent must meticulously groom and scrub down daily to remove his own genetic material, pass daily DNA scanning and urine tests using Jerome's samples, and hide his heart defect.

When a Gattaca administrator is murdered a week before a possible launch, the police find one of Vincent's eyelashes near the crime scene, but can only identify it as from an "unregistered" in-valid, and thus launch an investigation to find who owns the eyelash. During this, Vincent becomes close to a co-worker, Irene Cassini, and falls in love with her. Though a valid, Irene has a higher risk of heart failure that will bar her from any deep space mission. Vincent also learns that Jerome's paralysis is self-inflicted; after placing silver in the Olympics, Jerome threw himself in front of a car. Jerome maintains that he was designed to be the best, yet somehow wasn't, and is suffering because of this.

Vincent repeatedly evades the grasp of the investigation. Finally, it is revealed that Gattaca's mission director Josef killed the administrator because he threatened to cancel the mission. Vincent learns that the detective who closed the case was his brother Anton, who consequently has discovered Vincent's presence. The brothers meet, and Anton warns Vincent about his illegal actions, but Vincent asserts that he has gotten to this position on his own merits. Anton challenges Vincent to a final game of chicken. As the two swim out at night, Vincent's stamina surprises Anton, so Vincent reveals that he won by not saving energy for the swim back. Anton turns back and begins to drown, but Vincent rescues him and swims them back to shore.

On the day of the launch, Jerome reveals that he has stored enough DNA samples for Vincent to last two lifetimes upon his return and gives him an envelope to open once in flight. After saying goodbye to Irene, Vincent prepares to board, but discovers there is a final genetic test, and he currently lacks any of Jerome's samples. He is surprised when Dr. Lamar, who oversees background checks, reveals that he knows Vincent has been posing as a valid. Lamar admits that his son looks up to Vincent and wonders whether his son, who is genetically selected, but "not all that they promised", could exceed his potential just as Vincent has. The doctor changes the test results, allowing Vincent to pass.

As the rocket launches, Jerome dons his swimming medal and immolates himself in his home's incinerator. Vincent opens the note to find a lock of Jerome's hair.

Cast

Production

CLA Building complex
Marin County Civic Center

The film was shot under the working title The Eighth Day, a reference to the seven days of creation in the Bible. However, by the time its release was scheduled for the fall of 1997, the Belgian film Le huitième jour had already been released in the US under the title The Eighth Day. As a result, the film was retitled Gattaca, which takes inspiration from the letters G, A, T, and C, derived from four of the nucleobases of DNA: guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine.

Filming

The exteriors (including the roof scene) and some of the interior shots of the Gattaca complex were filmed at Frank Lloyd Wright's 1960 Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California. The speakers in the complex broadcast announcements in both Esperanto and English; Miko Sloper from the Esperanto League of North America went to the recording studio to handle the Esperanto part.

Design

The movie uses a swimming treadmill in the opening minutes to punctuate the swimming and futuristic themes. The production design makes heavy use of retrofuturism; the futuristic electric cars are based on 1960s car models like Rover P6, Citroën DS19 and Studebaker Avanti.

Title sequence

The opening title sequence, created by Michael Riley, features closeups of body matter (fingernails and hair), which are later revealed to be from Vincent's daily bodily scourings, hitting the floor accompanied by loud sounds as the objects strike the ground. According to Riley, oversized models of the fingernails and hair were created for the effect.

Music and soundtrack

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2024)
Gattaca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Michael Nyman
ReleasedOctober 21, 1997 (1997-10-21)
GenreContemporary classical music, film scores, minimalism
Length54:55
LabelVirgin Records America
ProducerMichael Nyman
Michael Nyman chronology
Concertos
(1997)
Gattaca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1997)
The Suit and the Photograph
(1998)
The Other Side From the Gattaca soundtrack by Michael Nyman
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The score for Gattaca was composed by Michael Nyman, and the original soundtrack was released on October 21, 1997.

Release

Box office

Gattaca was released in theaters on October 24, 1997, in the United States by Columbia Pictures and opened at number 5 at the box office; trailing I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Devil's Advocate, Kiss the Girls and Seven Years in Tibet. Over the first weekend the film brought in $4.3 million. It ended its theatrical run with a domestic total of $12.5 million against a reported production budget of $36 million.

Home media

Gattaca was released on DVD on July 1, 1998, and was also released on Superbit DVD. Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray versions were released on March 11, 2008. Both editions contain a deleted scene featuring historical figures like Einstein, Lincoln, etc., who are described as having been genetically deficient.

Gattaca was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2021.

Reception

Critical response

Gattaca received positive reviews from critics. The film received an approval rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 66 reviews, with a rating average of 7.1/10. The site's critical consensus states that "Intelligent and scientifically provocative, Gattaca is an absorbing sci-fi drama that poses important interesting ethical questions about the nature of science." On Metacritic, the film received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 64 out of 100, based on 20 reviews. Siskel and Ebert gave the film two thumbs up on the October 25, 1997 episode of their program, with Gene Siskel commenting that the film had a "smart script". In his other review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert stated, "This is one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas." James Berardinelli praised it for "energy and tautness" and its "thought-provoking script and thematic richness."

Although critically acclaimed, Gattaca was not a box office success, but it is said to have crystallized the debate over the controversial topic of human genetic engineering. The film's dystopian depiction of "genoism" has been cited by many bioethicists and laypeople in support of their hesitancy about, or opposition to, eugenics and the societal acceptance of the genetic-determinist ideology that may frame it. In a 1997 review of the film for the journal Nature Genetics, molecular biologist Lee M. Silver stated that "Gattaca is a film that all geneticists should see if for no other reason than to understand the perception of our trade held by so many of the public-at-large".

Accolades

Award Category Recipient Result
Academy Awards Best Art Direction Jan Roelfs
Nancy Nye
Nominated
Art Directors Guild Award Excellence in Production Design Jan Roelfs
Sarah Knowles
Natalie Richards
Nominated
Bogey Awards Bogey Award Won
Gérardmer Film Festival Special Jury Prize Andrew Niccol Won
Fun Trophy Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Original Score Michael Nyman Nominated
Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation Andrew Niccol Nominated
London Film Critics' Circle Awards Best Screenwriter of the Year Won
Paris Film Festival Grand Prix Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Art Direction and Production Design Jan Roelfs Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Costume Colleen Atwood Nominated
Best Music Michael Nyman Nominated
Best Home Video Release Nominated
Sitges – Catalan International
Film Festival
Best Motion Picture Andrew Niccol Won
Best Original Soundtrack Michael Nyman Won

Continuation

On October 30, 2009, Variety reported that Sony Pictures Television was developing a television adaptation of the feature film as a one-hour police procedural set in the future. The show was to be written by Gil Grant, who has written for 24 and NCIS. A Gattaca television series was revealed to be in development at Sony and Showtime in March 2023. It was intended to take place one generation after the events of the film. Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa were tapped as showrunners, and were also expected to serve as screenwriters alongside Craig Borten. Gordon, Gansa, Glenn Gellar, and actor Danny DeVito (who produced the film) would have served as executive producers. However, in June 2023, Showtime announced that they had abandoned plans to produce the show.

Legacy

Influence on In Time

Writer-director Andrew Niccol has called his 2011 film In Time a "bastard child of Gattaca". Both films feature classic cars in a futuristic dystopia as well as a caste privilege schism which the protagonist challenges and which prejudices the authorities into neglecting a thorough investigation in favor of condemning the protagonist.

Political references

U.S. Senator Rand Paul used near-verbatim portions of the plot summary from the English Misplaced Pages entry on Gattaca in a speech at Liberty University on October 28, 2013, in support of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's campaign for Governor of Virginia. Paul said that abortion rights advocates are advancing eugenics in a manner similar to the events in Gattaca.

Transhumanism

Main article: Transhumanism § Socioeconomic effects

In the 2004 democratic transhumanist book Citizen Cyborg, bioethicist James Hughes criticized the premise and influence of the film as fear-mongering, arguing:

  1. Astronaut-training programs are entirely justified in attempting to screen out people with heart problems for safety reasons;
  2. In the United States, people are already screened by insurance companies on the basis of their propensities to disease, for actuarial purposes;
  3. Rather than banning genetic testing or genetic enhancement, society should develop genetic information privacy laws, such as the U.S. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act signed into law on May 21, 2008, that allow justified forms of genetic testing and data aggregation, but forbid those that are judged to result in genetic discrimination. Citizens should then be able to make a complaint to the appropriate authority if they believe they have been discriminated against because of their genotype.

See also

References

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  2. "Gattaca Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
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  4. "Review of Gattaca". Challengingdestiny.com. 2004-02-25. Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  5. "NEUROETHICS | The Narrative Perspectives". Neuroethics.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  6. ^ White, Peter (June 29, 2023). "'Gattaca' Series Adaptation & Mandy Patinkin Comedy 'Seasoned' Scrapped At Showtime Along With Two Development Projects". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  7. "Gattaca on Hulu". Slashfilm. 28 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. Zimmer, Carl (November 10, 2008). "Now: The Rest of the Genome". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  9. "Gattaca a Not-So-Perfect Specimen" Archived 2008-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, Friday, October 24, 1997, URL retrieved 19 February 2009
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  11. "Endless Pools in the Press". Endlesspools.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
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  13. ""Gattaca, 1997": cars, bikes, trucks and other vehicles". IMCDb.org. Archived from the original on 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  14. Vlaanderen, Remco. "Gattaca title sequence - Watch the Titles". watchthetitles.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  15. "Gattaca soundtrack overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  16. "US Movie Box Office Chart Weekend of October 24, 1997". The Numbers. 1997-10-24. Archived from the original on 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
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  18. Amazon.com: Gattaca (1997). ISBN 0767805712.
  19. "Amazon.com: Gattaca (Superbit Collection) (1997)". Amazon. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  20. "Amazon.com: Gattaca (Special Edition) (1997)". Amazon. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  21. "Amazon.com: Gattaca [Blu-ray] (1997)". Amazon. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  22. "Gattaca – Media Play News". 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
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  26. Roger Ebert (1997-10-24). "Gattaca :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  27. "Review: Gattaca". Reelviews.net. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  28. Darnovsky, Marcy (2008). "Are We Headed for a Sci-Fi Dystopia?". Archived from the original on 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  29. Pope, Marcia; McRoberts, Richard (2003). Cambridge Wizard Student Guide Gattaca. Cambridge University press. ISBN 0-521-53615-4.
  30. Kirby, D.A. (2000). "The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA". Science Fiction Studies. 27 (Part 2): 193–215. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  31. Silver, Lee M. (1997). "Genetics Goes to Hollywood". Nature Genetics. 17 (3): 260–261. doi:10.1038/ng1197-260. S2CID 29335234.
  32. Schneider, Michael (2009-10-29). "Apostle preps for post-'Rescue' life". Variety. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06.
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Further reading

External links

Films directed by Andrew Niccol
Danny DeVito
Films directed
Films produced
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