Scenes 23 – 25: Vincent confronts the investigator (“Congratulations, sir. His spit was found in the dead Director's eye” to “Sorry, the wind caught it”)
Anton arrives back at Gattaca, having been summoned and told that the investigation team "has [their] man...in custody." Entering the room, he finds Detective Hugo with Director Josef. Detective Hugo informs him that Director Josef's "spit was found in the dead Director's eye." Detective Hugo concedes that his obsession with the eyelash and finding who it belonged to had been wrong all along. Anton realizes that the invalid was not involved. We realize Director Josef's motives for killing the Mission Director: the Mission Director had opposed the launch, and Director Josef knew that if they didn't go ahead he'd not see the launch in his lifetime, and it meant everything to him. After it is discovered that Director Josef is the true killer, Vincent confronts the investigator who visited his apartment for the blood sample. The investigator confirms Vincent’s suspicions—that he is his brother Anton. The two have a heated argument. When Anton threatens to reveal Vincent’s secret, Vincent challenges him, claiming “Is that the only way you can succeed; to see me fail? God, even you are gonna tell me what I can and can’t do now.” They bring up the time when Vincent beat Anton, and Anton challenges him to a third swimming contest.
Unlike the others, this swimming scene takes place at night, with the pitch black sky and dark waves emphasizing the danger and seriousness of this final competition. They swim so far out that Anton urges them to head back, but Vincent refuses to back out. When they are both on the verge of drowning, Vincent explains, “This is how I did it: I never saved anything for the swim back.” This quote indicates Vincent’s mindset throughout the whole film and his awareness that, in order to succeed, he would have to put in every effort, even if the consequences were high. This reflects that, because of his genetic shortcomings, Vincent’s hard work was far more important than his actual skills or abilities.
Vincent visits Irene. He offers her a strand of his hair and tells her "if you're still interested, let me know." She lets it go in the wind. They spend his last night before the mission together.
Scenes 26 – 28: Final scenes (“You’re flying today” to end)
The final scenes brilliantly juxtapose triumphant moments with tragic ones, and moments of chaotic fast-paced suspense with slow, painfully drawn out situations.
The scene is initially positive, with Jerome smiling and commenting “You’re flying today, aren’t you?” This moment should be a happy one for both Vincent and Jerome, as it marks the culmination of their efforts over the past months. Jerome reveals a fridge filled with his urine and blood samples for Vincent to use when he gets back, boasting that its enough to last him “two lifetimes.” This deceptive scene foreshadows a tragic truth: that Jerome does not plan to be around when Vincent returns. When Vincent asks him where he’s going, he vaguely replies “I’m traveling too.” He also hands Vincent a small envelope and asks him to open it once he gets into space.
Another crucial moment occurs moments before the ship takes off. This is the climax of the film, as Vincent has to perform one last urine test before he can go on the spaceship. As he was not expecting this and did not have Jerome’s sample, he fears that he will be discovered so close to the end. He becomes dismayed, claiming “Just remember that I was as good as any, and better than most. I could have gone up and back and nobody would have been the wiser.” Dr. Lamar tests the sample, and the screen reads ‘IN-VALID’. As Dr. Lamar is not surprised, we learn the shocking revelation that he was aware of Vincent’s secret all along, but deemed him worthy of going into space, despite his genetic inferiority. Though Vincent expects that his chance is now over, the doctor switches the profile on the computer to that of ‘Jerome Morrow: VALID’ and simply says “You don’ want to miss your flight Vincent.” A close up indicates Vincent’s face, full of gratitude and disbelief.
The final moments of the film are emotionally gripping, as the camera cuts between Vincent and Jerome, while a lilting classical score plays. Vincent’s situation is one of success. He walks slowly and confidently onto the spaceship, surrounded by his co-workers, the walls painted an optimistic green. As Vincent walks towards the spaceship, Jerome opens the door to a confined space and crawls in. Vincent enters the ship and attendants close the door behind him. Immediately after, the shot changes to Jerome, closing the door and locking himself into the confined space. While Vincent’s situation is clearly optimistic, Jerome’s is ominous. A panning shot shows the crew inside the ship and focuses on Vincent, with his eyes shut with anticipation, while Jerome looks at his silver medal, a symbol of his failing. As Jerome pulls a switch and flames come out, we are finally aware that the confined, cramped space is the incinerator, and Jerome’s life has ended with tragic suicide. Seconds after, the spaceship takes off, and the camera zooms in on the flames at its base. Hence, through a series of cleverly edited pieces, there is a striking juxtaposition between Vincent’s ultimate success and Jerome’s tragic demise.
Despite this tragic moment, the film concludes on an optimistic note. Vincent gazes at the stars in space and reflects upon everything he has achieved. He opens the envelope Jerome gave him and sees that it contains a large lock of his hair. In this way, Jerome is also in space. The final quote is greatly significant, as Vincent ponders “For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess, I’m suddenly having a hard time leaving it. They say every atom in our bodies was once a part of a star. Maybe I’m not leaving. Maybe I’m going home.” This quote provides a fitting conclusion to the film.
Analysis
When they eventually find the murderer, we realize that it is the Director. Time and time again this film confounds our expectations when it comes to identity. When an invalid specimen is found on the premises, it is immediately assumed that he or she must be the murderer. The discrimination is obvious. The irony of course is that the most valid of valids, the Director, is actually the culprit, even though he apparently "doesn't have a violent bone in his body." We are left wondering how accurate these genetic identifiers are.
When Anton and Vincent are reunited at Gattaca each questions the other's right to be there. Vincent thinks Anton should leave: they've found the murderer and so there's nothing left for him to do. Anton believes that Vincent should turn himself in for fraud. The film seems to suggest that Vincent has more right to be there than anyone else: no one handed him the role, he worked and fought for it and, crucially, has excelled at Gattaca. Anton says he's in a lot of trouble but that he can get him out of it. When Anton tries to tear him away from his dream, Vincent really stands his ground. He will not go anywhere—he will not be separated from what he believes he can do, he will not be told that he is not worthy. Vincent reminds him that, though he doesn't need rescuing, Anton "did once." To win the argument, they play chicken once more. Anton flounders and asks Vincent how he's managed to achieve everything he has. The answer: he "never saved anything for the swim back." Vincent shows his brother that there's a quality that doesn't show up on their genetic information: determination, which he has in abundance, and which has propelled him forward.
Irene wakes up in her car and sees Vincent through her mirror; this is the first time she's seen him since realizing his true identity, and it's significant that she now looks at him through a mirror: a lens that presents him in reverse. His two identities are there with him, the real and the reflected. He hands her a hair. "If you're still interested" he says "let me know."
Jerome has been working tirelessly throughout the film collecting samples so that "Jerome will always be here if you need him." When questioned why, he just says that he's going traveling too. We know that he's unhappy and has tried to commit suicide in the past; we suspect that this travel may be to another world entirely. Travel here is significant; it is not only literal but also about the places we go in our heads. Unhappy in his own head, Jerome wants to travel somewhere else. The traveling Vincent has done in his head has propelled him all the way along this journey. His imagination has kept his dream alive. As Vincent plans for his mission, it feels as though Jerome has nothing left to live for. He tells Vincent, "I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body. You lent me your dream." Jerome has been given a glimpse onto a world where things have meaning. He has lived vicariously through Vincent's passion and it has given him focus and purpose. What does it matter if you have the best genetic makeup in the world if you don't feel love and passion for something?
We see Vincent walk down a long hallway to board his flight. Despite the bumps along the road he has managed to stick to his dream and his path is now literally and metaphorically clear. The rockets we have seen shooting off into space throughout the film have been an inspiration to Vincent and their straight path, their clear line and purpose is what he's emulated. We see the planets hanging from the ceiling as he makes his final steps towards the rocket. He is closer than ever to the planets he has dreamt of for so long. It is worth noting the number of circles found in this last section of the film. We have already noted the number of crescent shapes and half circles, but here the circles are full and realized; the story, Vincent's story, is near completion. And at this precise moment, Lamar finally tells Vincent about his son: a story he's been wanting to tell him from early on in the film. "He's a big fan of yours...He wants to apply here...Unfortunately my son's not all that they promised. But then who knows what he could do?" Just at the point when Vincent is about to board his flight, he's stopped for one last urine sample; it's a "new policy." He has none of Jerome's samples with him and knows he won't pass. He assumes he won't be let through and says to Lamar, "just remember that I was as good as any and better than most. I could have gone up and back and no one would have been the wiser." This is where the stars align for Vincent. Lamar hints that he has always known he wasn't really Jerome Morrow—"for future reference, right handed men don't hold it with their left"—and suggests that Jerome's ambition and determination has given him hope for his son's future. Lamar lets him through even when he knows he's an invalid. In a very touching moment, Lamar says to him, "you're going to miss your flight Vincent." Vincent has proven himself enough to be able to be himself unashamedly: he is worthy of his own name. And the mission to Titan, the goal he had his eye on for so long, is his reward. He then makes his way through the circular tunnel: the circle is complete. Jerome, conversely, finds himself in the vessel we saw in the very first shot of the film. Unlike Vincent, he has not managed to develop; he is still stuck at the start. He sits in the vessel with his medal around his neck, still thinking about the past, about being second best, while Vincent—who was consistently told he would never succeed—has excelled and reached his goal. As Jerome stays earthbound, trapped in flames, Vincent is set free, shooting into space, away from the planet that confined him so entirely.
