Arrival 2016

As the curtain opens, the soothing tones of Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) guide us through a poignant journey, tracing her life from the birth of her daughter Hannah to the devastating loss that will shape her destiny. A renowned linguist and language professor, Louise’s expertise is soon called upon by Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) as he arrives at her office, bearing an otherworldly request: to decipher the enigmatic language of the extraterrestrial visitors touching down in 12 locations worldwide.

As the news reports of these celestial events unfold, Louise finds herself at the forefront of a global effort to communicate with the mysterious beings. Accompanied by theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), she embarks on a journey to the Montana landing site, where she is joined by a team of experts from around the world.

Upon arrival, they are transported to the pinnacle of the alien vessel, where the lack of gravity allows them to stand in awe before an impenetrable barrier. It is here that Louise, Ian, and their colleagues are introduced to the eerie presence of the heptapods, massive tentacled creatures shrouded in a mystical mist.

As tensions rise globally, with people succumbing to panic and chaos, Louise’s determination to bridge the communication gap only intensifies. Through her tireless efforts, she manages to elicit a response from the aliens, who begin to emit cryptic symbols that seem to hold hidden meanings. Ian, ever the wit, dubs the two heptapods “Abbott and Costello,” a label that will stick throughout their interactions.

As the stakes escalate, Louise’s own personal demons are stirred, as she finds herself drawn into a mystical connection with the heptapods. Her actions become increasingly intuitive, driven by an unspoken bond forged through her hazmat suit-less encounter with the aliens. It is during this pivotal moment that visions of her beloved daughter Hannah begin to surface, painting a poignant portrait of maternal love transcending mortality.

Meanwhile, a parallel storyline unfolds in China, where General Shang (Tzi Ma) harbors deep mistrust towards the extraterrestrial visitors. As the Chinese site diverges from the global plan, it becomes clear that even amidst the chaos and uncertainty, nations will stop at nothing to assert their dominance. The game of mahjong played by the Chinese team serves as a poignant reminder of the futility of relying solely on force and cunning in our pursuit of understanding.

As Louise’s subconscious begins to unravel the mysteries of the alien tongue, she is simultaneously flooded with vivid recollections of Hannah as a child, conjuring up a whimsical TV show where the young girl reveals a drawing of her parents. This tender moment is juxtaposed with Hannah’s anguished inquiry: “Is it my fault that my father left?” Louise reassures her that this departure has nothing to do with their own actions, attempting to ease the emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, in the present, Louise’s queries regarding the enigmatic girl are met with an air of mystique by the extraterrestrial visitors.

The tension builds as the aliens convey a cryptic message, “Use weapon,” sparking widespread unease and foreboding among the various sites. In response, the Chinese contingent issues an ultimatum: within 24 hours, the aliens must vacate the premises or face military reprisal. Other sites begin to follow suit, disconnecting from one another in anticipation of a potential conflagration. Louise, however, chooses to focus on the nuances of language, cautioning Weber that it is essential to distinguish between instruments and armaments.

As Louise and Ian venture into the alien vessel, they unwittingly stumble upon a C4 bomb planted by some of their own troops. The team’s efforts to establish communication with the heptapods are momentarily sidetracked as Abbott starts creating an intricate message comprising hundreds of minute symbols scattered across the surface. Just as the bomb is poised to detonate, Abbott makes a split-second decision to eject Louise and Ian from the vessel as it explodes in a fiery spectacle.

Louise awakens in the base camp, her world turned upside down by the impending threat of military strikes. With time running out, she and Ian rush to decipher Abbott’s enigmatic message, Ian deducing that numerous symbols relate to “time” but struggling to grasp their deeper significance. Agent Halpern (Michael Stuhlbarg) then delivers a dire report, revealing the severity of the situation as Russia has reportedly executed one of its own in an effort to conceal its secrets.

In a desperate bid to unravel the mystery, Louise hastens towards the vessel, which dispatches a small pod to permit her ascent. As she faces Costello, she learns that Abbott is gravely injured from the explosion. The enigmatic heptapod emits wisps of black symbol smoke, prompting Louise’s subconscious to conjure up visions of Hannah once more. Costello then guides Louise towards an epiphanic realization: the heptapods’ language is intended as a gift, allowing humans to glimpse into the future. This profound insight shatters Louise’s understanding of her memories of Hannah, revealing them not as flashbacks but rather as precognitive glimpses of events yet to come.

With this newfound comprehension, Costello enlightens Louise that their mission is to bestow humanity with the heptapods’ language, enabling future generations to assist these extraterrestrial visitors in 3000 years. As the clock ticks away, Louise’s grasp of the alien tongue holds the key to unraveling the enigma and potentially altering the course of human history.

As the clock ticks forward 18 arduous months, Louise and Shang are finally reunited, their paths converging in a poignant moment of mutual appreciation. Shang’s gratitude is palpable as he acknowledges the pivotal role Louise played in uncovering the extraterrestrial’s true intentions, a revelation that would forever alter the trajectory of humanity’s relationship with the cosmos. With Halpern’s phone at her disposal, Louise takes the initiative, swiftly contacting Shang at his private number. Sequestered away from the outside world, she and Ian share a moment of intense focus as she strives to convey the weighty message entrusted to her: the dying words of Shang’s wife. The global atmosphere is electric with anticipation as reports begin flooding in from all corners of the planet. As the news spreads like wildfire, the Chinese military stands down, and the vessels, those enigmatic harbingers of alien life, rise from the earth, vanishing into a swirling mist that shrouds the planet. Witnessing this spectacle alongside Ian, Louise is struck by the profound significance of their journey, one that transcended mere encounters with extraterrestrial beings. It was the discovery of herself, her own humanity, and the connections she forged along the way that would prove the most enduring legacy. As visions of a future replete with love, family, and purpose begin to unfold before her, Louise is drawn into a tapestry of possibilities, one that weaves together the threads of Ian, Hannah, and herself in a narrative of tender intimacy. In the present, as she and Ian’s arms enclose her, Louise rediscovering the simple joys of human touch, her heart overflows with gratitude for this newfound appreciation for life, love, and the mysteries that lie beyond our terrestrial bounds.