Genetic manipulation is the name of the game in the “not-too-distant future” of Gattaca, writer-director Andrew Niccol’s debut. Ethan Hawke stars as Vincent, an “In-Valid” whose natural birth and predisposition to various genetic disorders marks him as a second-class citizen. Determined to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel, Vincent assumes the identity of a “Valid” – aka a member of the genetic elite – played by Jude Law but becomes suspect number one when a murder occurs a week before his mission. With a relentless investigator in pursuit and the colleague he has fallen in love with (Uma Thurman) beginning to suspect his deception, Vincent's dreams steadily unravel. With recent news of genetically modified babies being born, the world of Gattaca seems less like science fiction and more like a cautionary tale of where the human race might wind up if these practices are left to run amok.
This screening is a staff pick, selected by Elizabeth, Operations Manager.