one way (directors name) showed tension in the film gattaca was through a film technique called crosscuts. this is a way to show the viewers where everyone is, in this case anton and irene going to ugenes apartment.the way the camera switched back and forth from ugene to irene made it seem like they were franticly moving while ugene had to conquer his own imperfections climbing up the helix stairs which is ironic due to the fact that he cannot walk, this shows motivation as the tag line of the film says “there is no gene for the human spirit”

go more in depth about helix and what it symbolises and how ugene has perfect genes but still has imperfections