Define: Arrival

Arrival is a science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and released in 2016. The film revolves around the arrival of extraterrestrial beings on Earth and the efforts of a linguist, Louise Banks, to communicate with them.

The film begins with twelve mysterious spacecrafts appearing at various locations around the world. Louise Banks, a renowned linguist, is recruited by the U.S. military to decipher the aliens’ language and understand their purpose on Earth. Alongside physicist Ian Donnelly, Louise enters the spacecraft in Montana to establish communication with the aliens, referred to as “heptapods.”

As Louise learns the heptapods’ written language, she discovers that their perception of time is nonlinear, allowing them to see the past, present, and future simultaneously. This newfound understanding of time influences Louise’s own perception and enables her to foresee future events.

Tensions rise among the nations as different countries interpret the aliens’ intentions differently. China, in particular, becomes increasingly hostile, fearing a potential threat from the heptapods. Louise, however, believes that the aliens have come to offer a gift of their language, which can unite humanity and alter the way humans perceive time.

In a climactic moment, Louise realises that the visions she has been experiencing are not glimpses of the future but memories of her future daughter, Hannah. It is revealed that Louise’s ability to perceive time non-linearly was a result of her interaction with the heptapods, who had foreseen their own departure from Earth.

Arrival raises thought-provoking questions about language, communication, and the nature of time. The film explores themes of unity, empathy, and the importance of understanding and cooperation among nations. It also highlights the potential consequences of miscommunication and the dangers of fear-driven decision-making.

Overall, Arrival is a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating film that challenges conventional notions of time and communication while delivering a powerful message about the importance of empathy and understanding in a global context.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.