Welcome to the Shrine to Actors

*SPOILER ALERT*  So this is the final installment of Gattaca, Jude Law and Ethan Hawke screencaps. It’s all about the pretty men, this time, and meaningful glances. Most of the screencaps take place near the end of the film, when Vincent (Hawke) is about to go on his long-awaited flight into space, leaving Jerome (Law) behind.

This is just after the scene where Jerome covers for Vincent with the policeman. In order to maintain the illusion of his character, Jerome had to pretend not to be paralyzed. In one of the film’s most moving scenes, Jerome drags himself all the way up a spiral staircase to get himself into a chair on the upper level where the main door is. When the crisis is over, Vincent carries Jerome back down to his chair.
(*Click* pics for larger versions)

It’s a strong moment between them. They’ve done a lot for one another, and they know their lives wouldn’t have been the same, or as good, if they hadn’t met. Jerome has helped Vincent realize his dream, and Vincent has taken good care of Jerome–they’ve been each other’s family.

The goodbye scene. There’s definitely a lot of emotion here, though it’s quietly expressed. One could say there is a small amount of sexual subtext, though really it’s more about love and understanding. On Jerome’s part, it’s perhaps more about affection. Earlier on, Vincent tells Jerome he needs to have people over whose company he doesn’t have to pay for. While these two do have a mutually beneficial business relationship, it develops into a friendship much stronger than a mere “arrangement”. So Jerome does have someone who will touch him without him having to pay for it–Vincent. And we can see in Jerome’s eyes how much Vincent has meant to him.

The final message from Jerome to Vincent…

That last look, a sort of conspiratorial “we got away with it”.

You have to admit, the looks are also slightly carnal. And Jerome even says, “I gave you my body”–sure, he was only talking about “genetic material”, but it has a double meaning. And there’s the lock of hair–again, a dual interpretation. It’s another layer to the story, another layer to their relationship, and it’s a strength of the film. Like I said before, writer/director Andrew Niccol knows how to take these sterile environments and wring a lot of emotion and meaning out of them. I’m excited about the prospect of another sci-fi film from his imagination.

__________________

Ethan Hawke, Jude Law Gattaca screencaps, c1997, Columbia Pictures.

__________________