In the film "Gattaca", Niccol presents a frigid and sterile depiction of the “not-too-distant future”, a world in which genetic engineering is the key to success. From the beginning, although high-tech and advanced, Vincent's apartment is seen to be completely practical and appears almost as if it is a laboratory, with a utilitarian steel bench and fridge. In addition, supplies of samples of blood and urine are stored in packets, which suggests that DNA (as well as the study of eugenics) has become a commodity in this future. This overbearing emphasis on the importance of genes is also seen at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation with both its environment and its very name. The four bases that form the code of DNA - G, A, T, C - can form "Gattaca", and are also highlighted during the opening credits, pushing viewers to see the names and picture the people behind them in terms of their DNA.
Likewise, the weight that a genetic code can carry is blatantly revealed through Vincent's birth. The moment that he is delivered, the midwife extracts a blood sample for analysis and uncompassionately lists his faults, the most prominent of which is a 99% probability of heart failure and a life expectancy of only 30.2 years. Having been given proof that his "God-child" is weak, inferior and unworthy of his name, Anton, Vincent's father, explosively insists that he have a different first name instead. Later, having left nothing to chance, his genetically engineered second son is deemed worthy to take the name "Anton", signifying that genoism in the future has plagued society not only in social structures, but also in families.
Genetic discrimination is also evident at the corporation, where identity is not proven by documents or cards. Instead, samples of blood or urine are provided to assure those in authority that only those with superior genes who have been approved to work at such a prestigious work place can gain access. However, despite their superiority, it is clear...