YEAR 9 ENGLISH

GATTACA: film as text assignment

AUSVELS Reading and Viewing : Language
Substrand: Expressing and developing ideas
Focus: visual language
Analyse and explain the use of symbols, icons and myth in still and moving images and how these
augment meaning
Substrand: Responding to Literature
Focus: Expressing preferences and evaluating texts
Explore and reflect on personal understanding of the world and significant human experience gained
from interpreting various representations of life matters in texts

AUSVELS Reading and Viewing : Literacy

Substrand: Texts in context
Focus: Texts and the contexts in which they are used
Analyse how the construction and interpretation of texts, including media texts, can be
influenced by cultural perspectives and other texts
Sub strand : Interpreting, analysing and evaluating texts
Focus: Analysing and evaluating texts
Explore and explain the combinations of language and visual choices that authors make to
present information, opinions and perspectives in different texts

Gattaca is written and directed by Andrew Niccol.

Gattaca is a 1997 science fiction film. Set in a future where people's life opportunities are largely
determined by their genetic makeups, the film tells the story of a natural-born man who assumes the
identity of a genetically engineered one to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut.

THE CAST

Ethan Hawke - Vincent Freeman

Uma Thurman - Irene Cassini
Jude Law - Jerome Eugene Morrow
Gore Vidal - Director Josef
Xander Berkeley - Dr. Lamar
Jayne Brook - Marie Freeman
Elias Koteas - Antonio Freeman
Ernest Borgnine - Caesar
Alan Arkin - Det. Hugo
Loren Dean - Anton Freeman

The world of Gattaca

discriminates between genetically-controlled or designed babies the valids
and invalids

the main character is not allowed to go to space because of his physical

defects, while designed people have all the opportunities

Eugenics is the science of producing genetically superior beings through

controlled breeding

genoism holds that the life of a person is determined by genes and people
cannot overcome the fact given by genes

genetic determinism is the belief that biology is destiny; you cannot overcome
the fate of your genes

the purpose of eugenics is to improve society by eliminating defective genes

a dystopia is a society where social happiness and freedom have been destroyed

although discrimination on genetic grounds is illegal in Gattica, people

still discriminate and judge people according to their genes

Vincent is one of the degenerates, who are ignored and excluded from most
aspects of society. Also his life is limited and he is doomed to second best position.

the director shows that the intangible aspects such as spirituality, love, respect
which are important in our life and in our relationships with others cannot be
determined by genes.

FILM HAS MEANING FOR AN AUDIENCE IN THE WAY

A NOVEL HAS MEANING FOR A READER!
Section 1: MEANING BEHIND THE CHARACTERS
1.Make a table with 2 columns. What similarities are there between Gattaca
written and directed by Andrew Niccol and The Declaration by Gemma
Malley.
Whats similar?
GATTACA

THE DECLARATION

2. Describe the character of Vincent Freeman and in what way do you think
this hero of the film appeals to the audience.

3.How is the character of Vincent Freeman like Anna Covey?

4. Describe the character of Jerome Eugene Morrow. In what way is he

different to Vincent?

5. Vincent needs something from Jerome and Jerome needs something from
Vincent. Explain how these 2 characters both give the other a chance at a
new life.
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Section 2: MEANING BEHIND MISE-EN-SCENE (everything

within a shot)

The circular staircase in Eugenes apartment can symbolise things other than a stair
case. This is the double helix symbol for DNA:

6. The staircase creates an underlying meaning for the audience- what is

it?

7. Everything within a film is there for a reason. Look at this shot of Jerome
Eugene Morrow. The scene has been deliberately lit in a certain way. Its in
close up so the audience is meant to pay attention to it. What meaning does
the lighting give to the audience about the character?

8. Vincent watches the VALID training astronauts going up an escalator. The

shot is framed so that the reflection of these astronauts is seen to be
overlaid on top of Vincent and the Head Cleaner. The shot has a lot within it
as Vincent stands behind an invisible barrier of glass. What meaning can be
seen in this one shot.
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9. Choose a shot from the film- click link below. Use your snipping tool to
take a copy of it. Paste it into a word doc or google doc. Write a paragraph
stating what meaning you think it creates for the audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb4hiE6fLAo

Section 3: MEANING BEHIND DIALOGUE IN A FILM SCRIPT

The turning point: the swimming contest

The director, Andrew Niccol deliberately contrasts the two swimming scenes to contrast the different
attitudes between Anton and Vincent towards lifes difficulties.
These contests reveal much about their personality differences as a child and as an adult. Prior to the
second contest, Anton condescendingly asserts, You didnt beat me that day. I beat myself.
Antons true character is revealed in the second contest when he stops several times, overtaken by fear,
calling on Vincent to return to the shore. He arrogantly refuses to acknowledge and accept that he does
have limitations, and Vincent has to rescue him a second time.

Anton [The two brothers are swimming to see who will chicken out first as in their childhood]: Vincent!
How are you doing this Vincent? How have you done any of this? We have to go back.
Vincent: It's too late for that. We're closer to the other side.
Anton: What other side? You wanna drown us both?
Vincent: You wanna know how I did it? This is how I did it Anton: I never saved anything for the swim
back.

9. What does this quote say about the determination of Vincent to succeed?

[Vincent is looking at a picture of a 12-fingered pianist]

Irene: You didn't know?
Vincent: Oh, yes. Yeah.
Irene: Wonderful, wasn't it?
Vincent: Twelve fingers, or one, it's how you play.
Irene: That piece can only be played with twelve.

10. In the scene where Irene and Vincent are watching a concert it is
revealed that the pianist has 12 fingers instead of 10. Read the quote
above. What does Vincents dialogue reveal about his attitude towards a
persons achievement?
11. There is a counter argument to what Vincent is saying. In contrast Irene
says the piece of music they have listened to can only be played by a
person with 12 fingers. In what way might this line of dialogue be an
argument for agreeing with changing genetic makeup and creating a person
with 12 fingers?

[Vincent's parents are planning a second child, and are shown four candidate embryos]
Geneticist: We want to give your child the best possible start. Believe me, we have enough imperfection
built in already. Your child doesn't need any more additional burdens. Keep in mind, this child is still you.
Simply the best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a result.

12. What is the geneticist saying about genetically modifying a baby?

13.The film is made a decade before the end of the 20 th century when the
debate about genetic engineering was the hot topic of the day. Is the film
for or against genetic engineering? The film shows positives and negatives
to this type of world. What point do you think the director makes to the
audience about the advances of science and tampering with genes.

Section 3: MEANING BEHIND THEMES/BIG IDEAS

14.

Themes/big
ideas

Evidence from the film that demonstrates

this theme (could be character,mise-enscene, sound editing, setting, moment in
the narrative, line of dialogue) Give ONE
example.

Perfection (and
imperfection)
Discrimination
Failure
Self Worth
Family
Determination

15. Choose ONE scene from Gattaca which you think is the most interesting
for the audience OR choose your favourite scene. Watch this scene again.
Give 3 examples where the director has created meaning for the audience in
this scene through use of sound and visual techniques
The scene I have chosen is __________________________________________________
a) Describe what happens in this scene.
b) Table of Film Meaning: draw this table up and fill in the details concerned
with your chosen scene.
Action:

Visual Techniques:

Gives the

Sound Techniques:

Gives the Effect

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Effect of
EXAMPLE: Vincent
tears himself out of the
family photo

a. Close up of the family photo as

Vincent tears himself out of it.
b. Zooms out and focus deepens
as Antons face fills the spot
where Vincent was in the photo.

Vincent is symbolically
removing himself from the
family, and Anton is filling
the gap left by him.

of
Sound effect: Tearing of photo

Emphasises that Vincent is

tearing himself out of the
family, and how much this
might hurt.

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

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