GATTACA SETTINGS
SETTING
DESCRIPTION FIVE
WORDS TO DESCRIBE
APPEARANCE/FEATURES
SYMBOLS
FIVE WORDS TO
DESCRIBE MOOD/FEEL
WAYS IN WHICH
SETTING REFLECTS
THEMES
Geneticist’s
office
(10.30-12.50)
Scientific
Futuristic
Expensive
Unfilled
Unique
Helix staircase
Extracted eggs
Molecular structure
Scientific equipment
(scanner and
microscope)
Mysterious
Suspicious
Contemplative
Impressive
Powerful
The geneticist’s
office is the
beginning to this
futuristic setting.
Through science,
the
society is capable
of ridding the world
of disease and
illness: a utopic
notion. Life for the
genetically
engineered ‘valids’
also appears to be
perfect, illustrated
through the
positive
connotations in the
‘the genetically
superior, success is
easier to obtain.’
Gattaca presents a
deeply dystopian
society. Jerome’s
plight and tragic
end illustrate that
life for the valids is
not in fact perfect.
Another dystopic
element is the
subjugation of the
‘invalids’, such as
Vincent, trapped in
a society that
believes that ‘one
exceeds his
potential.’
All of these symbols
show that
Geneticism is the
new natural way of
conceiving children
and it is encouraged
in the society, as
those who are valid
have a much greater
advantage in life, and
children like Vincent
who are invalid are
not perfect and
therefore deserve to
be disadvantaged
and discriminated
against.
GATTACA SETTINGS
Vincent’s
childhood
home
(12.55-16.00)
Old fashioned
Warm coloured
Homely
Cluttered
Typical
The ocean/sea as the
brothers played the
chicken game until
Vincent finally won
and knew that at
that point, he was far
more than just an
invalid, and just
because his DNA was
letting him down, it
didn’t mean he
would let himself fail.
The plank of wood
where Anton senior
would measure the
two boys’ heights,
Vincent and Anton,
and it revealed that
Anton was superior,
as even though he
was younger than
Vincent, he was
growing much more
rapidly.
The space objects,
such as the books
Vincent memorised,
the small planets,
showing how much
he desired to go to
space one day and
he knew even
though that he was
an invalid, nothing
would stop his
dream/goal as he
wouldn’t let anything
stop him, even his
DNA.
Calm
Lonely
Critical
Pessimistic
Hopeful
This scene is one
that confronts the
ideas about human
identity and selfworth. Society in
Gattaca
has created a
system to clearly
categorize people
based on their
genetic makeup. In
this setting, Vincent
is told by his
parents at an early
age to be
‘realistic...The only
way that [he
would] see the
inside of a
spaceship, is if [he]
were cleaning
it.’The identity is
controlled and
defined by an
individual’s genes.
Vincent confounds
these definitions of
identity and
realises that he is
worth more than
he thinks, and
eventually leaves
this home due to
his realisation that
anything is possible
if you believe and
therefore achieve,].
GATTACA SETTINGS
Gattaca
Corporation
complex
(18.60-22.10)
Bustling
Contemporary
Exciting
Action packed
Futuristic
Perfect
The large window
Vincent cleaned as is
showed that one day
Vincent would arrive
to Gattaca,
positioned on the
other side of the
window.
Intense
Ominous
Hopeful
Fearful
Determined
The spaceships as
Vincent knew that
one day, he would be
in space on one of
those ships as it was
his destiny to leave
Earth because it was
never his true home.
He was not loved or
treated the way he
should have been on
Earth, which is why
he had the dream of
leaving one day.
Vincent’s
‘invalid’ home
(22.10-23.45)
Inexpensive
Gloomy
Crammed
Office feeling
Closter phobic
Space books/work
These objects
showed his
determination and
passion for space
and becoming an
astronaut, even if his
DNA tells him
otherwise. From his
childhood, all the
way to adulthood,
Vincent hasn’t
stopped dreaming of
space which shows
his dedication and
how he does not
simply care about
anyone else opinion.
Mysterious
Gloomy
Lonely
Confining
Frustrated
The society is rich
with
discrimination. In
the world of
Gattaca, individuals
are discriminated
against on the basis
of their genetic
code. While
genetically
engineered
individuals form
the
society are elite,
those born by
natural means are
treated as inferior,
second-class
citizens. This
setting in particular
shows this theme
when Vincent
received the job
when he had only
taken a DNA test,
with no interview.
In this scene
Vincent has a
strong human
spirit. In a society
dictated by rules
and
conventions, it is
only through will
power and
determination that
Vincent, the
underdog, is
able to achieve his
dreams. Vincent
represents
powerful notions
such as humanity
and
GATTACA SETTINGS
Jerome’s home
(24.20-28.35,
1.15.301.19.30)
Fascinating
Charming
Enormous
Futuristic
Dull coloured
The blood case was
the start to Vincent’s
new identity. This
was the moment
that marked an even
higher possibility of
him flying into space
and exiting Earth to
concur a new world.
Vincent’s DNA was
not valid, but
Gerome’s was, and
the moment German
opens the blood
case, Vincent knows
that he now has
everything that he
needs to acquire his
dream. The DNA,
determination and
the power.
Incinerator. This is
where Vincent’s
journey officially
began as this is when
he had to begin
constantly scrubbing
the DNA off of his
body and then
burning it so that
there were no invalid
remains.
Unfortunately, this is
also where
Gerome’s journey
sadly ended. He had
drained his body and
supplied Vincent
with two lifetimes of
blood and urine, so
his purpose was now
gone and he could
set himself free.
perseverance, and
his ultimate victory
illustrates
humanity’s triumph
over science. In this
home he studies
constantly and
doesn’t let
anything hold him
back, even though
he knows his DNA
is a limit, it didn’t
stop his dream.
Melancholy (at the
beginning)
Reflective
Hopeful
Trustful
Valid’s are
genetically
engineered to be
perfect. However,
despite this
scientific attempt
to remove
imperfections,
even the ‘valids’
are deeply flawed
characters. This
them can be seen
through Jerome’s
apathy, alcoholism
and bitterness
regarding his fate.
The society is also
inherently flawed
as it is based on
judgement,
discrimination and
oppression.
GATTACA SETTINGS
Helix staircase. The
staircase in Vincent
and Jerome’s
apartment is spiralshaped, representing
the shape of
the double-helix
model of DNA. This is
a focal point of many
scenes, as it
symbolizes the
society founded
upon genetics and
scientific ideals. It is
also a powerful
symbol for life and
humanity, key
themes explored in
the film.
Wheelchair and
silver metal. Both of
these symbolise how
Gerome ended up in
his situation and how
it has affected both
him and Vincent. If
Gerome didn’t come
second place in his
swimming event,
then he would never
have been disabled,
as he attempted
suicide because he
couldn’t bare being
second best. This
meant he disabled
himself by jumping in
front of a car and felt
useless, but once he
met Vincent it gave
him a purpose to
live. He helped
GATTACA SETTINGS
Vincent, and Vincent
helped him.
Scientific station.
This is where
Gerome generously
gives his body fluids
and particles (hair,
skin, etc) to Vincent
and shows the strong
friendship they grow
with each other
overtime. All of these
things are a part of
Gerome but have
now helped Vincent
to accomplish his
dream. Without all of
these materials, it
wouldn’t have been
possible at all.
External
settings-roads
city streets,
solar farm.
Futuristic
Perfect
Modern
Enormous
Similar shaping
The solar farm shows
the first time that
Irene and Vincent
had formed a
stronger romantic
connection between
each other and
started to create a
love bond. This is the
place that was
important to Irene,
and she decided to
share it with Vincent,
which means she has
trust in him and
therefore has the
potential of loving
him.
The parking lot was
where Vincent had
created the solar
system where he
Idyllic
Satisfied
Hopeful
Peaceful
Empty/unfilled
In the parking lot
where Vincent
created the solar
system it shows the
theme of courage.
He doesn’t
understand why he
should give up on
his true passion
just
because other
people have doubts
about his ability.
His passion is too
strong to hold
back,
and it takes
courage, time and
time again, to push
himself to become
the person he
believes
GATTACA SETTINGS
estimated exactly
how far apart each of
the plants were. It
shows his
determination to
achieve his dream
despite his family’s
negativity. Especially
when Anton realises
that he is superior
due to his DNA and
states ‘I bet I could
be an astronaut if I
wanted.’
Natural
settings? Sea,
trees, gardens,
etc.
Beautiful
Exciting/thrilling
Perfect
Picturesque
Welcoming
The sea is where
Vincent officially
decided that his
family did not
provide him with the
love and support, he
needed and that he
was much stronger
than he believed.
This was the place
where he first beat
his brother and
become aware of his
full potential. Even
though his DNA was
supposed to mean
that he was inferior
to ‘valids’, he noticed
that just because
perfection wasn’t in
his DNA, it doesn’t
mean that he still
can’t achieve his
dream.
The sea scrubber was
also a symbol as the
night that him and
Irene went on a date
and he stayed at her
he can be. Even
though his brother
Anton seems far
greater, he soon
realises so is he.
Hopeful
Reflective
Idyllic
Optimistic
Passionate
Vincent finds
courage to stand
against his brother
and eventually a
whole society, a
society that tells
him that he is
Invalid and
unworthy. Vincent
shows courage in
abundance and it
seems to come
from his
belief in himself. In
the scene at the
beach where
Vincent finally
beats his brother,
he realises he is not
powerless and that
he is able to be
great, even though
he is not aa valid, it
doesn’t mean he
isn’t valid.
GATTACA SETTINGS
house, the next
morning he had to
find something that
he could scrub his
‘invalid’ skin cells
and particles off of
him so that when he
was working at
Gattaca, no trace of
him would be left
behind