Searching for less well known Biopunk movies, I thought I’d take a peek at Code 46, a 2004 movie with Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton. It’s set in a near future, dystopian world where reproduction is only permissible between people not closely related. As a result of rampant human cloning, people have no real idea of their genealogy and thus are constantly in danger of inbreeding, so genetic screening is mandatory prior to reproduction or as the 'Code 46' dictates. Its a future of genetic travel restrictions and biological surveillance. The title is based on the fact that Humans normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46 and thus the Code 46.

Code 46:

“Article 1

Any human being who shares the same nuclear gene set as another human being is deemed to be genetically identical. The relations of one are the relations of all. Due to IVF, embryo splitting and cloning techniques it is necessary to prevent any accidental or deliberate genetically incestuous reproduction.

Therefore:

I. All prospective parents should be genetically screened before conception. If they have 100%, 50% or 25% genetic identity they are not permitted to conceive

II. If the pregnancy is unplanned, the foetus must be screened. Any pregnancy resulting from 100%, 50% or 25% genetically related parents must be terminated immediately

III. If the parents were ignorant of their genetic relationship then medical intervention is authorized to prevent any further breach of Code 46

IV. If the parents knew they were genetically related prior to conception it is a criminal breach of Code 46.”

Overview:

An insurance fraud investigator takes an Empathy Virus to help him in his investigation and has an affair with a forger. This results in a pregnancy in violation of the genetic law Code 46 as the girl turns out to be a genetic clone of his mother. She gets shipped off for a government sanctioned abortion and her short term memory wiped. The investigator decides to be with her anyway and goes to get her back. He gets found out, his memory is wiped, and goes back to his family happy and none the wiser. His girlfriend gets the criminal charge and is exiled to the outer zone to survive, memory intact and full of longing and loneliness. A full description of the movie can be seen in Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_46 ).

My Take:

The film highlights Director Michael Winterbottom's view of what could come about from genetic engineering. In the movie 'papelles' are a sort of insurance/health passport to control interzone and outside access depending on your genetic weaknesses. For example, a character gets a forged pass to leave the city and because of a genetic weakness ends up dying. It’s the big Insurance agencies gaining power to access your genetic information in order to issue or deny insurance and travel coverage as well as access to the modern city and its jobs and economy. Those who don’t meet the standards are deported to the outside desert world. Nice touch since in reality, some governments including the Canadian government are pursuing the reality of Genetic Passports.

Free will means the choice to take the chance to leave the zone despite your genetic weaknesses. It seems the government in this movie has the best intentions on taking care of its population inside the zone. Those outside the zone are forced to fend for themselves in a desert of shacks and wandering, in essence forgotten by the In-zone population while the outer zone inhabitants maintain their memories and their longing for a better life. The loneliness of this world is a theme, the retention of memory creating such loneliness and the need to connect. 

For me, the most fascinating aspect of this film is that of genetic enhancement using engineered viruses that you can take to enhance certain abilities such as empathy, ability to sing in tune, or foreign language ability. Within the zone, it seems you have the free will to enhance yourself, outside the zone is another matter as there is little to no access to such enhancing viruses, or they are engineered to not work outside of the zone where they simply cause a common cold. Another interesting touch considering the research of using viruses as vectors to combat disease in gene therapy.

Biopunk Credentials: 

Bio: Genetic Engineering, clones, reproductive laws to prevent inbreeding, insurance passports, viral behavioral enhancements, memory and behavioral manipulation. 

Punk: The underground passport forgers,  a member of the  punk rock band The Clash is briefly seen in the movie singing a karaoke version of "Should I Stay or Should I Go” while an illicit forged passport transaction occurs, unique melting pot language composed of multiple languages used together. 

Dystopian: Shanghai/Seattle protected from solar radiation, the outside desert world based on Dubai. 

Noir: The investigator, moodiness of forbidden love, of maternal love.

Control: Mega Corporation “The Sphinx” ,Code 46, ‘quality control’, inside corporations seem assembly line, outside seem remarkably similar to what we see today, cultural melting pot, no futuristic flamboyance at all makes it down to earth. Memory wiping of Code 46 violation, memory as free will. Government sanctioned abortions upon conception.

Inner/Outer zones and those who can afford to get Viral enhancements versus those exiled who cannot. The outer world, however has freedom of thought and action at the expense of danger.

This is definetely worth a watch for Biopunk fans, though the film seems to have had a love/hate relationship amongst the general population. It's a film that is at heart a love story and seeks the viewer to empathize with its vision of a possible future. There's no special effects and that's its charm. Its somewhat uncomfortable, but by no means mind blowing. It is however, a slightly different take on the future and one that seems plausible. Check it out though, and let me know what you think.