Gattaca Final Scene "Going Home" Analysis
...taken over evolution. Superior children are made simply by manipulating genes. It's an examination of one of man's greatest aspects. In fact, the film's tagline is "There is no gene for the human spirit." The superior are often complacent, confident in their inherent abilities. Those who've been conceived naturally are considered lower class, but really are the fighters, constantly struggling to earn what others are handed.
One of the main characters is Vincent (Ethan Hawke), a "disadvantaged birth" who dreams of space travel. Another is Eugene (Jude Law), a superior man, ex-Olympic swimmer, who after a paralyzing accident is no longer of use to society.
This final scene is actually a sequence of inter-cutting between two scenes. One is the triumph of Vincent, the realization of his dream. This is compared to and contrasted with the other scene, Eugene's suicide.
II. SHOT ANALYSIS
Shot 1: 15 seconds, 8 frames
Size: This shot slips between a close shot and a full close-up as the character moves around in the frame.
Sound: A very light classical style score is played throughout these two scenes. This shot includes sound effects emphasizing Eugene's struggle to enter the incinerator. His hands thud against the door frame, and he gasps as he works to get inside. The scene begins with the hard, cold mechanical whoosh and whirr of the door opening, against which the character's organic noises are contrasted.
Contrast Dominant(s): Shortly after the shot begins, Eugene's hands appear at the bottom of the door frame. His hands contrast sharply with the frame, immediately drawing the eye. When the rest of his body appears, he's dressed in a dark suit. The sides of the doorway are light as is his face. The contrast draws attention to his face,...
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