My mother has always told me that life is what you make of it. People don’t start out with the same opportunities, but if you work hard enough you might make it to the top. This is a very American sentiment, its really just the classic “American Dream” story we’ve all heard before. The film Gattaca explores how this great “Dream” would change in a society where opportunities are manufactured through genetic engineering. Vincent is the main character who was born without any genetic modification, and is therefore considered a risky investment for any possible employers. Nevertheless Vincent passionately wants to go to space and is willing to try anything to get there. He eventually assumes a new identity and pretends to be someone with a great genetic profile. He defies the odds and achieves his goals. In the film, Vincent becomes the best worker in the space program through determination and sheer force of will. Near the end of the film Vincent meets his younger brother Anton, one of those genetically modified super humans. Anton asks Vincent how he is able to beat all these other people who on paper should be so much stronger or smarter. Vincent explains that as a kid he never saved any energy in reserve, he always gave it everything he had.

As an audience we look up to Vincent as a hero for the common man. He has no special genetic ability, rather he has what we all could posses, a never give up attitude. There is a hope for us all that we too can strive for excellence and even get what we want despite not having an advantage at the start. This dream has permeated throughout American thought and is seen as a cornerstone of what it means to be American. Of course everything is more fair, and much more desirable, if we provide everyone with the same opportunities, that way everyone can reach their full potential. Unfortunately, the current political situation in America seems to disregard equality so all that we are left with is Gattaca and our hero Vincent. So what should we take away from the film? We need to put all the energy we have into achieving what we want and making America a better place for everyone. We can still progress and get what we deserve even if the government sets up arbitrary disadvantages or takes away our opportunities. America is home to this great Dream, and we can work hard and work together to make things right.