Symbolism In Gattaca

Symbolism & Camera Angles and distances in Gattaca (1997)
By Umama Fakher
CMTM 160:Introduction to Cinema
By Dan Wirth
Section 01
12:55 PM - 2:10 PM

The film “Gattaca” directed by Andrew Niccol mainly uses symbolism and camera angles and distances to highlight the main themes of the film. In the very opening scenes of the Gattaca, we can see the Blue screen and close-ups of falling hairs and nails as the information about the film is displayed. The falling hairs and nails are signifying the importance of genes and genetics and how the genetic will be going to play an important role in the whole movie. Another example of symbolism we can see, the letters G A C T are highlighted in the titles and subtitles and names on the blue

The scenes from the film when the parents of the main character named Vincent who has the faith birth, along with him came into the hospital room where they are discussing with their gynecologist to provide the best genetics to their next son, the director frequently uses the close-ups, to show the expressions of the parents while talking to the Gynecologist, the Monitor screen showing the four healthy fertilized cells, to signify the importance of the how much important role these DNA cells were playing in determining the future of the newborns of that society. In the same scene, we can see the low angle was used when the camera turned around to Vincent. A view of the subject as seen from below eye level, with a toy model of DNA strand saying Hi to the Gynecologist. It was not a coincidence that Vincent had the toy model of DNA in his hands while his parents were discussing to provide the best possible genes from both of the parents to their next son but this toy model was placed in the hand of Vincent to symbolize how much a perfect genes and DNA is important to determine the successfulness of one person and how much he has to struggle with his own DNA in the society shown in