Costume:
In the beginning Vincent is seen in casual clothing, slightly scruffy but that never the less mark him out as studious, possibly even geeky as his physically weaker stature also conforms with this stereotype. Once he leaves the relative comfort and safety of his home Vincent loses even this stereotype and identity becoming merely a generic worker, wearing a grey and black jumpsuit, in the eyes of society. His glasses are symbolic of his perceived invalidity. After Vincent takes on Jerome’s identity he dresses in dark colours, usually black, and styled suits, with hair slicked back, in order to present himself as one of Gattaca’s elite. His physical transformation highlights the superficial prejudice of society and highlights that underneath the genes everyone has the same potential. His smart, crisp uniform despite the futuristic diegesis of the narrative is surprisingly traditional and similar to dress clothes today. However the regularity that he wears this smart attire is surprising.
Type Casting: Jerome, Vincent and Anton all have brown hair which is slicked back (except when Vincent isn’t in his role as a ‘borrowed ladder’). This conformity in the casting is to show the reduced individuality of the characters and to allow the audience to see the possibility of their interchangeable identities. Their chiselled features, without facial hair, impress the society’s desire for perfection and to highlight the attractiveness of the actors is also a hook for a female audience.
Jerome is wheelchair-bound after an ‘accident’ and this is silver and black with no additions to it. Jerome was born as one of the elite and assumes a position of superiority and authority. His dress code matches these feeling as he is always well turned out in a suit styled outfit, shirt, tie and waistcoat with dark trousers and shiny shoes. Although, like the other characters, he is often in darker clothes (particularly dependent on his mood) he is the only character to be seen wearing a bright colour. Whether this is ironic as he is one of the most depressed characters of the film is unknown.
Irene wears the same formal styling of outfit as Vincent. It is black and white and decent, although she wears it with sophistication and its tailoring affords to show her figure highlighting her desirability. Most of her clothes have an air of formality even her all black athletics clothing and elegant black dinner dress. Her gold dress is the first time she breaks free of some unspoken formal clothing code and by having her hair down the idea that she is breaking with normality is accentuated. The richness of the colour gold is often symbolic of something precious and Irene’s role as a love interest would align her with that idea.
Type Casting: Blonde hair is often associated either with beauty, being angelic or with stupidity. In this film Irene’s blonde hair and blue eyes could be a nod to the Nazi view of the perfection of the Aryan race in order to align the oppressive government with this infamous political party so that the audience will subconsciously understand the threat that this antagonist poses within the film. Uma Thurman also has an angular face and is often considered an interesting beauty. Her model-like looks would show the audience from the beginning that she too was a designer baby – made to be the best in every way.
really interesting insight
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