How to write about film techniques when discussing themes
1.
Eugene tells Vincent: “I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body;
you lent me your dream”. What part do dreams and determination play in the
film GATTACA?
A paragraph in an essay responding to this topic might be about the transformative effect on Eugene of his
‘deal’ with Vincent (= one of the essay’s hyper-themes, or this particular paragraph’s topic), which addresses the
macro-theme of dreams and determination.
Jude Law’s characterisation of Eugene begins as a cynical, cigarette smoking film noir type who is
initially highly sceptical of Vincent’s ability to follow through on their criminal scheme with any sort of
determination. Confined to a wheel chair, he is often shown in close-up and shadowy lighting as he
makes sarcastic quips or fussily prepares DNA samples for Vincent’s false identity as the valid Jerome.
Gradually he reveals more of himself to Vincent… But the staircase sequence in which Eugene
prevents Anton from discovering the truth of Jerome’s false identity portrays the climax of Eugene’s
transformation into an idealist struggling against the system. Niccol cuts between Anton’s speedy
approach to the apartment and Eugene dragging himself up the symbolic ‘borrowed ladder’ of genetic
prejudice, emphasising both the suspense of the moment and Eugene’s determination to be
(paraphrasing Vincent’s ironic line) ‘true to himself’ for the day. Close ups, high camera angles,
heightened sound effects of Law’s body on the stairs and the tense string music all emphasise his
effort to fulfil Vincent’s dream of escaping earth’s gravity as an astronaut.