MovieChat Forums > Code 46 (2004) Discussion > Why not just sterilize them?

Why not just sterilize them?

posted 10 years ago by WatchAnythingOnce
8 replies | jump to latest

Instead of a complicated system to ensure people who are too closely related don't procreate, why not just sterilize them? Everyone undergoes genetic testing, if there's a "Code 46" issue, both partners must agree to permanent contraception in order to continue the relationship. Problem solved...

[–] gmansi 10 years ago

The chances of Code 46 were really high, if they sterilize every couple of Code 46 maybe the human natality will be in danger?

Also, I dont know what happens with Code 46 couples outside the zone, they can have children?

[–] subase 9 years ago

Because it's a totalitarian dystopia and they live in a morally rigid and controlled society. This is concealed as a utopia, but really everything is controlled by a central government/A.i with a religious/moral dogmatist element and also mysogynist. Notice only she is punished by exile and keeping her memories, while the man goes back to this former life as if nothing happened.

[–] preseznik 9 years ago

That is a false assumption. Her first violation got her the exact same punishment Robbins' character got for HIS first violation. She was a second offender, however, and I guess we know what happens to repeat offenders now, obviously, don't we?

*not* mysogynist.

[–] fire-baby 8 years ago

i think it sucks because he knew... did she? i know i may have missed a minute or two (watched while i was cooking lol) but i don't think she even knew.... he did... he was the "repeat offender"; if he had just left her alone after finding out then it wouldn't be so... harsh.

It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality...

[–] WatchCat 8 years ago

by fire-baby

"...i don't think she even knew.... he did... he was the "repeat offender"; if he had just left her alone after finding out then it wouldn't be so... harsh."

As far as the government was concerned, she was a repeat offender, having been in for the Code 46 violation (punished her by a forced abortion and memory swipe) and still, again, being with the same man. Though, I agree with you that she no longer knew that being with him was a Code 46 violation.

However, remember that she was ALSO was guilty of trafficking forged papelles (papers).

So the government viewed her just as a repeat offender of laws -- and she didn't "deserve" to be a part of "society" anymore.

But the fact that the government could see into memories, they would have seen in his memory that HE DID KNOW about the Code 46 violation, so, yes, both the government and he knew that he was a repeat offender, too.

If this, uh, great society were fair and if isolation from society is what they do to repeat offenders (of any crime, apparently,) either both or neither would have be left in the desert.

But this is NOT a fair set up.

It felt to me that the government chose only to swipe his memory and leave her (literally) in the dust because they thought HE was a more valuable member of their society than she was.

Bye, bye 'second class' woman.

[–] fire-baby 8 years ago

exactly this.... it's so not fair, but life never is, i guess...

It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality...

[–] nnom 8 years ago

Here's my problem...why would a worldwide government give a *beep* about incestuous progeny?
What are you risking, an increased chance of recessive genes, big deal, that could just mean two fair haired people have a ginger (altho that would be horrible, all gingers are inherently evil and/or sociopathic)...seems like a omniscient overlord government would have bigger fish to try.

That being acknowledged, it was an oddly sweet movie...because Samantha Morton is oddly sweet.

[–] emailaddress-600-852845 8 years ago

Because it's a movie about a world that doesn't make sense. Stop trying to make it make sense. If it all made sense there couldn't be the movie at all.

The whole barbaric-masses-outside-the-gates futuristic movies were long in the tooth long before 2003, though I suppose it's even worse that they keep being made, but at least Mad Max Fury Road had some nice CGI.