Gattaca is a film by director Andrew Niccol. It is set in the not too distant future and is about a man, Vincent Freeman, living in a society where the fate of its citizens is already influenced before their birth. By prenatal preselection the so called “Valids”, people who are genetically superior to those who have been conceived the common way, are destined to have privileged jobs and build the elite of society. Vincent, a “faith birth”, whose genes are flawed, has the dream to become an astronaut. To achieve this apparently hopeless goal he takes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a “Valid” with perfect genes, who is disabled and tied to a wheelchair after a suicide attempt. Equipped with great ambition, Vincent manages to overcome the obstacles on his way to become an astronaut at Gattaca, a corporation that organizes space missions.
Although Gattaca has an exciting plot, Andrew Niccol puts the focus on questions of moral and humanity. Prominent issues in Gattaca, that are repeatedly treated with representation by subtle symbolism, are life and especially birth, loss of individuality, competition, and discrimination.
Niccol uses imagery and symbolism to develop a language that works particularly on the connotative level. An attempt to read the film only by its denotations will without doubt be unsuccessful. Especially the ending sequence is full of images that are crucial for the comprehension of Niccol’s point. Some of them can be read for themselves, others need comparison with other scenes from the film. By a step-by-step analysis of the last 24 shots of the film I will show how the use of symbols and images works in Gattaca.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Analysis of the ending sequence
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this analysis is to explore the symbolism in Andrew Niccol's film Gattaca, focusing specifically on the ending sequence. The analysis aims to demonstrate how the film's use of imagery and symbolism contributes to its overall meaning and thematic depth.
- Life and Birth
- Loss of Individuality
- Competition and Discrimination
- The Importance of Origin
- The Search for Identity and Equality
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces Andrew Niccol's Gattaca, setting the scene of a future society where genetic pre-selection determines an individual's destiny. It focuses on Vincent Freeman, a "faith birth" who dreams of becoming an astronaut despite his genetic imperfections. The chapter highlights the film's thematic concerns with morality, humanity, and the use of subtle symbolism to convey its message, emphasizing the importance of understanding the film's connotative rather than purely denotative layers. The introduction sets the stage for a close analysis of the film's symbolism, specifically within the ending sequence.
Analysis of the ending sequence: This chapter provides a detailed shot-by-shot analysis of the final 24 shots of Gattaca. It examines the use of continuous music, color symbolism (particularly the use of green to represent life and birth), and the circular shape of the gangway as a visual metaphor for the birth canal. The analysis focuses on Vincent's journey to the spaceship, interpreting his final statement ("Maybe I'm not leaving. Maybe I'm going home.") as a symbolic second birth, representing either the beginning of his true life or a return to his origins. The chapter also examines the parallel editing of Vincent's departure and Jerome's self-immolation, highlighting the symbolic convergence of their journeys. The chapter emphasizes the director's use of visual language, highlighting cinematic techniques to support the themes of the movie.
Keywords
Gattaca, Andrew Niccol, symbolism, imagery, genetic engineering, discrimination, identity, birth, space travel, connotation, denotation, parallel editing, life, home.
Gattaca Film Analysis: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a language analysis focusing on the symbolism in Andrew Niccol's film Gattaca, specifically analyzing the ending sequence. It includes the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores themes of life and birth, loss of individuality, competition and discrimination, the importance of origin, and the search for identity and equality within the context of Gattaca's futuristic setting of genetic pre-selection.
What is the main focus of the analysis?
The primary focus is a detailed analysis of the ending sequence of Gattaca. This involves a shot-by-shot examination of the final moments, interpreting the use of imagery, symbolism (like color and shape), and cinematic techniques (like parallel editing) to understand the film's deeper meaning.
How does the analysis interpret the ending sequence?
The analysis interprets Vincent's final statement ("Maybe I'm not leaving. Maybe I'm going home.") as a symbolic second birth, representing either the beginning of his true life or a return to his origins. It also highlights the parallel editing between Vincent's departure and Jerome's self-immolation as a symbolic convergence of their journeys.
What specific symbols are analyzed in the ending sequence?
The analysis examines the use of continuous music, color symbolism (particularly green representing life and birth), and the circular shape of the gangway as a visual metaphor for the birth canal.
What is the significance of the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide a concise overview of the content of each section, including an introduction that sets the stage for the analysis by introducing Gattaca and its thematic concerns, and a detailed description of the methodology and interpretation used in the analysis of the ending sequence.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include Gattaca, Andrew Niccol, symbolism, imagery, genetic engineering, discrimination, identity, birth, space travel, connotation, denotation, parallel editing, life, and home.
What is the overall objective of this analysis?
The objective is to demonstrate how the film's use of imagery and symbolism contributes to its overall meaning and thematic depth, specifically focusing on how these elements work together in the ending sequence to convey a powerful message about identity, freedom and the human spirit.
- Quote paper
- Jakob Maier (Author), 2006, Symbolism in Andrew Niccols "Gattaca", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/69728
