Health Beyond the Blog: “GATTACA”

“GATTACA” is a sci-fi movie that explores the theme of genetic testing in humans and its limitations to determine our abilities.

by Irene John

The 1997 film GATTACA, directed by Andrew Niccol, depicts a dystopian future where a person’s DNA determines nearly every aspect of their life. The movie follows Vincent Freeman, who is conceived naturally but labeled “invalid” at birth due to a predicted heart condition. As a result of his status, he is denied almost all opportunities to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut. Freeman eventually adopts the identity of Jerome Morrow, who was genetically engineered to be “perfect,” and lives out Jerome’s life through borrowed DNA.

Even though the movie was released in 1997, it remains extremely relevant today and highlights the issues of genetic testing.  Currently, we screen for diseases and cancer, but also hold conversations about predispositions for particular conditions, such as a heart attack or a neurological disorder. Only, in Vincent’s world, those probabilities turn into final judgments before a person can even decide who they wish to be. 

From my perspective, the film was not traditional, in the way that it did not mostly contain action-packed or drama-filled moments. There was no huge rebellion or discovery at the end, just Vincent repeatedly performing the same few tasks over and over again, which served to make the story much more real and impactful. 

GATTACA highlights the necessity of separating the idea of genetic superiority from self-worth. Although Vincent is technically “unhealthy” on paper, he is the one who is mentally strongest and most determined. Meanwhile, Jerome, who is “genetically perfect,” suffers constantly from his anxieties. Evidently, this move attempts to flip the assumption that better genetics equate to a better life.

GATTACA is available to stream on platforms such as Apple TV and Amazon.