Arrival (2016) is a science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, based on the short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang. The plot centers on Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a renowned linguist, who is recruited by the U.S. military to help communicate with extraterrestrial beings after twelve mysterious spacecrafts appear around the world.

Working alongside physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), Louise enters one of the spacecrafts located in Montana. Inside, they encounter the heptapods, seven-limbed aliens whose language is unlike anything humans have ever seen. The heptapods communicate through complex circular symbols that represent whole sentences or ideas, rather than linear sequences of words.

As Louise works tirelessly to understand the heptapod language, she begins to experience vivid visions of a child she has never met. These visions eventually reveal themselves to be glimpses of her future daughter, Hannah, and she realizes that the heptapod language enables its users to perceive time non-linearly.

Tensions rise as misunderstandings between humans and the heptapods lead to global unrest. Some nations interpret the aliens’ messages as threats and prepare for conflict. However, Louise’s deepening understanding of the heptapod language allows her to decipher their true message: the aliens have come to offer humanity their language as a tool for seeing the future, which will help unite the world and ensure mutual survival.