GATTACA

US, 1997, 106 minutes, Colour.
Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Gore Vidal, Xander Berkeley, Jayne Brook, Elias Koteas, Maya Rudolph, Elizabeth Dennehy, Blair Underwood, Mason Gamble, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Shalhoub, Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Loren Dean.
Directed by Andrew Niccol.

1. The acclaim for the film? Lack of popularity on release, a more cult status afterwards? Futuristic, the blend of the psychological, the scientific? Philosophical implications? Exploration of prejudices and genetic engineering?

2. The colour scheme for the film, glacial, sterile? The atmosphere of the future, genetically engineered society? The contrast with real and human society? Space, Gattica, the sea? The special effects?

3. The musical score, atmospheric, orchestral?

4. The use of the voice-over, Vincent and his telling the story, his self-assessment?

5. The flashbacks for Vincent’s life, the birth, the rosary, the place of God? The role of the geneticist? Vincent as not being chosen, not genetically perfect, the heart defect, prospective death at thirty? The contrast with the rest of the family? With Antonio? The irony of the name Freeman? His home life, his relationship with the rest of the family, his brother, the rivalry, the father and his favouritism? Vincent and his illness, blood brothers, swimming? The rescue, his age? Bonds?

6. The contrast with genetic perfection, the role of flaws, the focus on perfection?

7. Vincent, his work as a janitor? Caesar and his help with his work? His aims, wanting to go into space? The offer, the transition? The validity of the tests, the showers, preserving the genetic material?

8. The contrast with Jerome, the eugenics, perfect, his drinking, the accident, the injury to his legs, paraplegic? The collaboration with Vincent? Friendship, drinking, Antonio? The cover with Irene? Out on the town? Giving his body? Vincent getting the dream?

9. The drama with Vincent as Jerome, the tests, his using Jerome’s DNA? The rigour of the training, the role of the director? The nature of the mission? The exercises needed for preparation? The person testing, his son? Watching the lift? Irene, sharing, going out? Her inability to cross? The flight, the beach, the relationship? The truth – and her heart?

10. The murder of the director, the role of Irene, the detective and his investigation, Antonio? The cover-up, meeting Antonio, the swim? Survival?

11. The character of the director, his philosophy of life, running the institution? The influence on Vincent? The motives for the murder?

12. The detective, Antonio, the work, the leads, the tests?

13. The doctor testing, allowing Vincent to go? The timing of the investigation, the evidence for Vincent’s guilt, his eyelash, his waiting to go into space? The dramatic tension?

14. Vincent, achieving his life ambitions, his values – despite imperfections?

15. Gattica (and its title coming from DNA codes) and its interpretation of the present, of the future? The role of genetics? The human desire for perfection? Prejudice against those less blessed genetically? The memories of the past eugenics, the anticipation of future totalitarianism?

16. The philosophy of the film, the beauty of the film? The humanity?