The movie Gattaca and the book Always Running have different themes but they communicate the same message. The film, Gattaca, is suggesting that many years from now with technology advancing rapidly we will be able to design babies and make them flawless and healthy. Those who are born naturally are categorized as invalids. Invalids have a disadvantage because they are viewed less than and incapable of being successful. We see the main character, Vincent, an invalid struggling with accomplishing his goals and rising over the low expectations that are set for him by society. Similarly, in Always Running, the main character Luis is a Mexican American living in East L.A. Simply being a Mexican American comes with disadvantages. He is expected to be satisfied with living “La Vida Loca” and it consists of becoming part of a gang, doing …show more content…
This is the expected path for every hispanic living in his barrio. Ultimately, Niccol and Rodriguez both argue that someone’s identity determines what actions they take and what they think they are capable of doing.

Vincent and Luis both struggle with the low expectations that are set by society for invalids and Mexican Americans. In Gattaca, society expects invalids like Vincent to ultimately become a criminal and be good at nothing. Similarly, in Always Running, Luis, is trapped living “La Vida Loca” and it takes time for him to change the way he wants to live because he is pressured to live this risky life. In the beginning of the film we see Vincent and his brother, Anton, growing up and while they are growing up Anton is treated better by his parents because he is not born naturally