The 1997 film Gattaca holds a special place in Ethan Hawke’s filmography for sci-fi fans. For those who look at it through a pop culture lens, like me, it’s also notable as the film where Hawke met Uma Thurman, whom he would marry just a year later.
Alongside these two big names, the cast also features Jude Law. They’re so young and fresh in this movie; all three would go on to take major strides in their acting careers after Gattaca.
Hawke often laments that Gattaca isn’t more widely known, though he might have to admit that, in a career filled with projects, this isn’t one of his strongest. If, like me, you’re not particularly drawn to dystopian themes, Gattaca may not be especially captivating.
Gattaca is set in a future where the likelihood of diseases, physical strengths, and weaknesses can be identified through your genes. Society doesn’t discriminate based on socioeconomic status but rather on genetic traits. Who qualifies for prestigious jobs or earns respect in society is determined by physical endurance and genetic “strength.”
The film asks a crucial question: What about willpower, resilience, and determination rooted in perseverance? Even if there’s a 99% chance you could develop a heart condition, isn’t it worth fighting for that 1%? Are humans not beings capable of pushing beyond the limits of their physical bodies?
The story begins with the rivalry between two brothers who are polar opposites in this genetic hierarchy, later exploring whether they can overcome the barriers between them. Gattaca presents a different way of envisioning how those who feel they don’t fit in, who are cast out due to their perceived weaknesses, can make peace with life.