Arrival Explained

The meaning of Arrival only becomes apparent in repeat viewings. The circular language of the alien Heptapod's is the foundation of interpretation itself.
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Music:
Original music and arrangement of "Thus Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Brian Christopherson. You can find more of his work here: / brianchristopherson "
On the Nature of Daylight" by Max Richter

[@youthnation1]

Hey there! Thanks for watching today's video! If you enjoyed today's video, don't forget to subscribe to my KZbin channel! You can subscribe to my KZbin channel here → kzbin.info

[@timothymaier1908]

Thanks very much! I love this film and am looking forward to seeing it again soon, with a new perspective. Do you think that this understanding explains or describes déjà vu experiences?

[@youthnation1]

I don't think we can say. But it might.

[@fredgrimley8883]

@@timothymaier1908 This is hilarious. I wrote my post BEFORE I opened this thread up, and I see that you asked about deja vu. Read my post, you can laugh as well, knowing that I wrote it before I read your question.

[@TheAirlock]

Well done, Brian. Well done, indeed.

[@gerwynjones6862]

If you were of caves, your writing would be of caves,If you were of land, your writing would be of land,If you were of stars, your writing would be of the stars.

[@No-kb9oy]

I like arrival because it doesn’t portray aliens as these copies of humans. Most modern pop culture portray aliens as humanoid creatures, but if aliens exist, they won’t look like humans at all. Aliens would follow their own rules of evolution and biology depending on the conditions they live in. The aliens in arrival are “accurate” because they evolved differently than humans and would have no chance of looking like humans. Also, I like how the movie doesn’t portray aliens as unfeeling monsters, but instead complex, intelligent, and interesting creatures with a mysterious past . Arrival is just a good movie all and all.

[@0wnter1d1ck]

You should watch the content created by cgi animator youtuber “melodysheep”. He made a video about the possible forms alien life can take based on different environments or different molecules (silicon based instead of hydrogen). The title is “life beyond” part II museum of aliens something like that

[@No-kb9oy]

@@0wnter1d1ck I’ve watched his videos before. There amazing and slightly underrated.

[@markusmuller6173]

social life, team player & heroes

[@markusmuller6173]

(8:08) The explanation is quite good, but in my opinion not precise enough! (8:34) Yes, it is the trial and error based experience that enhances our evolutionary knowledge - But: For a GUIDED and goal-oriented DEVELOPMENT, a reasonable NEW HYPOTHESIS is necessary in the first place (= NEW WORDS).

[@mrteaparty6090]

Quick Question: how does the story in Arrival comment on the human condition ‐ how we react to threats and retain our humanity ‐ that is inherent in science fiction genre?

[@gandfgandf5826]

This film had so much emotional impact on me that I haven't been able to re-watch it. Yet.

[@StbrnSal]

gandf gandf I felt that, it’s such an experience that for some reason should only be experienced once then cherished for ever

[@aishwariyasweety2433]

What part was the most emotional for you?

[@chadmatheson3577]

Have a read of "The Story of your Life" *sniff*

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

Same.

[@MauriceLeviejr]

The child death scene was unrealistic. Been there. Language/time of the aliens versus communication with humans was bizarre. Aliens showing up without understanding our culture and language would have engendered the most violent response possible, literally ‘till death. The first contact would be “is this thing on? Hi, don’t freak out, we’re from far far away and we’re going to be in your neighborhood uhhhhmmm... next week. We’re very friendly, and we brought gifts. In fact, we’ll park ourselves on the moon until y’all want to talk. By the way, who shot JR?”

[@alisterzarkar7163]

You left out something very important. "We help humanity. In 3000 years, we need humanity's help. "

[@corneliusquincydavenportic1913]

It’s cool how that statement itself is also cyclical

[@plush1758]

what does that mean

[@alisterzarkar7163]

​@@plush1758​@plush1758 the Octapod said that to the doctor lady. What's it mean could be different to each viewer's interpretation. My take is that after learning their language, the human race will evolve in a new way and become much more advanced and maybe physically too. But in what way will be of help to the octapods, that I hope will be revealed in the sequel. I hope they make one.

[@aditisk99]

​@@alisterzarkar7163 Yeah, this is one of the movies that do need a sequel.

[@E44792]

​@@alisterzarkar7163 learning their language is the way. the aliens helped humanity by uniting nations and thus, as u said, we evolved.

[@sarahmeyer2217]

i would give anything to watch this movie for the first time again

[@prometheus5405]

@RedemptionSoS I love Radiohead. Denis Villeneuve seems to love their musics too

[@timothymetevier5932]

In a way you can! The directors next movie comes out in October! #Dunemovie

[@romans6788]

Should I watch this video before I watch Arrival, or wait until I watch the movie?

[@joey.steely00]

@@romans6788 if u haven’t already, u should definitely watch the movie

[@javieralonsovergarabello5705]

@@romans6788 the less you know about the movie, the more you will enjoy it

[@TheFiown]

As someone who speaks several languages I can confirm that when you are immersed in a language your whole being adapts and changes, it's not just language it's also body language and attitude and understanding. Different languages seem to 'need' different senses to be practiced or understood.

[@MrPig40]

ASL is a good example of this. You project tone through facial expression and body language. Language is fascinating.

[@TheFiown]

@@MrPig40 Yes, I learnt sign language some years ago, for no specific reason other than I loved the 'ballet'. The families I was in class with were reluctant to grimace along with the gesture so I told them that signing without facial expression had no meaning on changed the meaning. In the end they made me get up and show them how to sign. It was great fun although I have lost a lot over the years. Like any language if it is not practiced it can dissolve !

[@MrPig40]

@@TheFiown I dated a woman for 4 years that was a professional ASL interpreter. Deaf culture is fascinating. Unfortunately I am terrible at languages so I just barely speak one, lol.

[@TheFiown]

@@Taushathetech When I arrived in France many years ago I spoke quite a bit of French from school, I had always loved that language. I used to keep the radio on in French in the background or watched French movies without subtitles. It helps, it seeps into the brain. That said some people just cannot learn another language. When you learn a second language a third one is much easier. Why not hang out with native spanish speakers, watch telly novellas or find a magazine on a subject you like in Spanish. When learning Italian I read fashion magazines in Italien and slowly you learn. It's not something you can do five minutes a day. Try falling asleep to something spanish.

[@seanroberts381]

Thai language is tonal and so the inability to control the emotional tone in your voice can end of conveying the wrong word or meaning to that word. So you have a culture that is more in control of their emotions than typical western cultures.

[@MikeKollin]

Our illusion is that we go from past to future. We go from Now to Now.

[@youthnation1]

Well said

[@MikeKollin]

@@youthnation1 Thanks...

[@maijaliepa119]

Mike Kollin Conscious Power 🌎🙏💙THANK YOU🌎🙏💙😷

[@timhallas4275]

"I have traveled the world only to arrive back where I started and to know the place for the first time." It's about the journey the mind takes to understand itself, and how everything else follows. To know ones own mind is to know the universe within.

[@Mr_Pv]

I love this movie, specially how it views languages. Me, as an Spanish native speaker, I can think in English without the necessity of translating in my mind, I always thought of that but I never saw it portrayed in film, and certainly not as amazingly as this film does. Great analysis, great video!

[@corneliusquincydavenportic1913]

The idea with time in this movie isn’t as complicated as some are making it out to be. It’s not Back to the Future time travel where you can change the future by going to the past. The aliens reveal that they experience time all at once. Louise realised this when she experiences “memories” of her future in a kind of “deja vu” way. That’s it. All she can do is “remember” the future. She does this because her future already happened, the same way we remember the past because it already happened. It’s all predetermined. The point was showing that Louise now appreciates the beauty of her life because she sees all the joys and pains of life in hindsight, even though she hasn’t lived through those experiences yet. It’s a great theme and some people are too wrapped up in the physics of it that they just don’t get it, man.

[@a.v9057]

I just finished this movie n I like how you explain it thanks

[@katherinewilson1853]

I think if a person has familiarity with the term Akashic records, or even just the idea of karma and rebirth from a Hindu or Buddhist perspective, it might be easier to appreciate as well. I liked this movie when I saw it, because as someone with seizures, this very much explains what some temporal seizures literally feel like, even if the movie looks and sounds sci-fi. It may sound cool/kooky, but there is no time/space construct. It's a societal norm. This type of movie opens up a great discussion about everything you mentioned and shows us how really, truly small human perspective is.

[@kevinsmith8076]

I mean it’s not bound though. Louise could’ve changed her future. She didn’t have to have Hannah. Just don’t get married to Ian and have sex.

[@randybugger3006]

​@@kevinsmith8076 That makes her a bad person. She had a kid she knew would die, with a husband that would learn too late that she knew their kid would die. If he knew what she knew when they got pregnant, and he decided to have a doomed kid anyway...? But it's still a crummy thing to do to the kid. Selfish b*tch.

[@FoursWithin]

​​@@randybugger3006 Your anger sounds naive. Every child born will suffer and die. Every single one.

[@ricogoldstar]

One thing you didn't mention is the Heptapods self preservation motive for contact. 3,000 years in the future, humanity aids the Heptapod species, possibly from a disaster. It's not stated exactly how we help, but we do, and become good friends with the Heptapods.

[@pdcdesign9632]

This makes no sense. If these advanced aliens can live in multidimensional time why cant they help themselves in advance and not have to depend on a puny race like the humans?

[@grendel824]

@@pdcdesign9632 Because their future does not include them helping themselves, and they already know this. That's kind of their whole thing.

[@pdcdesign9632]

@@grendel824 how convenient 🙄. I can write movies like that then. 😆

[@01_pandenyomanl.d.j96]

​​@@grendel824 so uhh multidimensional being just see the future and decide thats it we cant do anything, future has been decided welp. They maybe multidimensional but not quite smart one, even human adapt and evolve

[@BeeOppresion]

​@@pdcdesign9632 bruh, then go ahead. You could earn millions man

[@cassiemarie9525]

I’m an ASL Interpreter and this is one of my favorite films ever. Being bilingual has completely changed my brain and the way I think, it’s such a beautiful thing. This movie really hits home how it shapes your mind, especially when he asks Louise if she dreams in their language. I’ve been learning for over seven years and I dream that people I know, my friends and family who don’t know ASL, will be signing with me and I’ll remember it when I wake up. It’s such a strange thing.

[@shinyanon7839]

Whats your favorite film then

[@cassiemarie9525]

@@shinyanon7839 I have a great number of favorite films! But if you’re looking for something to watch to gain a better understanding of ASL or the Deaf community, I’d recommend CODA or even Hawkeye, as one of the main characters is a Deaf woman and they get into her backstory a bit. I can also list some resources if you’re interested in learning the basics of ASL. :)

[@Dream-ix9eh]

There is another video explaining arrival that has almost 5 million views and it's a terrible analysis with a lot of wrong interpretations. Why do you barely have 160K???? This analysis is brilliant.

[@youthnation1]

Thank you. It may grow with time. It has been a few years since the film has come out and the interest in it has somewhat waned. But I appreciate your encouragement.

[@Kate-kf2of]

@@youthnation1 i remember watching it with my husband and we literally didnt understand anything, yet we found ourselves so broken hearted. We just drove home in silence. I tried to watch every single theory/explanations on youtube, but nothing clicked and i still left with so many questions. After i watched yours, felt like i breathe different air..! Thank you for this ♡

[@soxfan12kd]

It's almost a creepy coincidence that you come out with a video about Arrival the day before I have to write an essay on the film for my class. Thanks for coming in clutch for me man! Really needed this to get my brain really stimulated for this!

[@youthnation1]

Oh wow! Right on!

[@sabrod92]

How did it go. Three years later

[@Demineoz]

Man the end of the video had me shivering and almost tearing up, amazing hidden meaning of this movie.

[@AmjadAbboud]

Same here ! I had already studied the temporality of Arrival, but your video is one step above all others !

[@youthnation1]

Thanks!

[@amosho261]

There was a scene that Louise told Ian that she doesnt know how to explain to Ian what she experienced. Thats an allusion i think to what Wittgenstein said that "even if a lion could talk, we wouldnt be able to understand him".

[@Technotic1]

this movie along with interstellar are such beautiful and mind blowing films and i would do anything to see them for the first time again

[@jmonie02]

yea, it puts on you in a state of "amazement"

[@shawnliu7]

This movie really left an impact on me. I still remember after I watched this movie for the first time, someone in the theatre shouted, demanding a refund for the ticket because they had came expecting to see something like Aliens/Independence Day/ any other blockbuster alien invasion movie. This memory really revealed to me that experience and knowledge can totally change ones' view on life and understanding of our environment. Having an open mind that is permeable to new experiences and comprehensions is always.. IMPORTANT.

[@markian76]

100% The shallow minded people who cannot appreciate such films dissappoint me

[@NebulaComments]

I lost my Dad when I was 12. I watched him die slowly over a number of years, including his final moments. If you think about life as a pathway, death comes at the 'end' and childhood at the 'start'. Ordinary cause and effect, or in life following a 'normal' progression (your parents dying after you've grown up) means you'll experience said progression piece by piece, for me that wasn't the case. I was almost perptually sad for much of my life, felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and I couldn't undstand why. Arrival helped me to understand that it was seeing my fathers death as a child that caused this. I saw the end of the 'progression' before I had fully experienced the beggining. It was like seeig the final words of a book as 'it passed, the end' before you'd even finished the first chapter. That overwhelming feeling Amy Adams' character felt was what I felt. Only when she learnt to appreciate life for all that it brings could she fully appreciate it, as I am now learning. I always wondered why I saw meaning where others didn't, felt the scope of life beyond the immediate, it's because I saw it's true extent. Magically but harrowingly, I learnt to apprecaite it's presence, through an awareness of its end.

[@safiraatiele664]

that´s just a meaningful comment. I cant sleep rn cause i couldnt stop thinking about my mom who died of cancer 4 years ago when I was 15 and i was crying so much.. i watched her fade away slowly too.. I rewatched this film which I so deeply love recently so I decided to do some research on it cause i wanna get it tattoed, ended up on this video and saw your comment.. it means a lot to know that other people feel the way I do. I feel so empty and lost cause I dont have someone to guide my throughout my life. im really sorry for your dad and wish you the best ^^

[@sunsioux444]

@NebulaComments: absolutely beautiful, comment here that you’ve shared with us. I had a dream that something was going to happen to my father, and it did. when I had that dream I decided to make the most of the time that I had left with him. He died when just short of his 80th birthday when I was 55. although that seems like a lot of years, I had with my father, it went by like a flash of lightning. We must savor the moment we have with loved ones because life is so very short.

[@brettwaddingham3296]

When I watched Arrival for the first time, I walked away thinking that the movie was the closest portrayal (possible) to how God (seeing all parts and the whole) must think. It was truly moving and thought provoking.

[@Brooklynbaby47]

😑 indeed but he still gave us the ability to choose ❤️❤️❤️

[@Brooklynbaby47]

Alpha and Omega 👌🏻

[@brettwaddingham3296]

@@Brooklynbaby47 yes by God's grace we can choose. Otherwise we would still be dead in our sin UNABLE to please God

[@brettwaddingham3296]

@@Brooklynbaby47 just dawned on me. 2 heptopods, alpha and omega. Man, I need to watch this movie again!

[@MAYOWA.007]

Maybe he does think or have to proccess anything

[@Nitephall]

This is one of those rare cases where the film is better than the novel that inspired it. Maybe that's not really fair to say, because they're kind of two different beasts, but I was very disappointed with how the novel ended. In the novel **spoilers** there is no reason for why the heptapods came, and they suddenly leave without giving any explanation for their departure. And that's it. It just ends. If you read some of his other stories, it becomes clear that he likes disappointing his readers. "Hell Is the Absence of God" is one of the most horrific pieces of fiction I've ever read, not in the sense that it was written poorly, but in the absolutely horrifying picture it paints of the universe. I was so upset after reading that story I wanted to slap the author and ask Amazon to refund my purchase. I don't read his stories anymore.

[@iuliaionelapetcu1411]

Now you've scared me :( What is 'Hell is the absent of god' about?

[@justinhicks1248]

I'm sure someone has already said this but...."Tis better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."

[@MAYOWA.007]

Why?

[@steven3hunnid446]

@@MAYOWA.007because

[@Balthazar2242]

It wasn't that she had to learn their language in order to receive a message. It was that the language _in and of itself_ *was* the message that she needed to receive, and that in learning the language she would be transformed in her mind.

[@steve.santiago]

I think Hannah drawing her parents “talking to animals” and Hannah’s play dough heptapods meant Louise was able to teach Hannah the circular language and Hannah could see visions of the past (and presumably the future) as Louise can. Louise has to teach humanity the circular language and Hannah was her first pupil.

[@ChrisMichael]

I know you made this video years ago, but as a student of psycholinguistics and a lover of quantum emergence theory, I gotta say… to me this film felt less like a new alien language *did something to her, so much as her own capacity to understand new potentialities for reality had to click for her to even be able to entertain the concepts their language was trying to communicate. As a result, she was able to perceive reality the way the heptapods already knew it to be: as self-actualizing and non-linear (quantum emergence theory) and that her passive flashbacks of her future were like picking up FM radio stations in some new metal plate in her head. That in fact, reality had always been non-linear and self-actualizing, but because humanity hadn’t yet encountered anything to totally reframe how they experienced it, those “Fm radio stations” went completely unnoticed…. Until now. Her worldview didn’t change because she had new vocabulary, her fundamental understanding of reality had to evolve to be able to understand their vocabulary. And it was that shift in her, not the language itself, that prompted the non-linear visions. (Was my takeaway anyway)

[@mxvega1097]

As a sociolinguist by training I thought the Sapir-Whorf discussion was a bit lame, as it has been refuted so many times. Our cognition precedes and is greater than our language domain, and I say this as some one who speaks English, Mandarin and Shanghainese. There are certain words in English which we have borrowed, eg from French, or Hindi, or whatever that we use because they just fit so much better our conception, cognition and need for a word for a thing. The signified comes first, the signifier second. Wittgenstein is wrong, on this count. I do like the flipside idea, however, that possibly sociolinguists have a highly plastic and supple neural and cognitive function, which as a form of self-selection would predispose those specialists to be first in the contact zone when alien language starts being thrown about. And contrary to the essay, not all writing goes left to right, and reading comprehension is not only linear and word by word, it's more a gestalt.

[@jankom.7783]

I think non-linear refers to thinking, not reality. What does that even mean non-linear and self-actualizing reality? Non-linear thinking means that the way you think does not fit certain pattern, like "subject-verb-object" or listing item in a room always clockwise. In non-linear thinking you might start listing items seemingly random, meaning of that situation only reveal itself with adding more and more items. Using non-linear language might give another meaning to words used, like how important a word is by its placement in a sentence. But, of course, you will lose some meaning by not using linear language. There is a trade-off for everything

[@AstriaTVTruthExposed]

Man just watched the movie. The alien saying the other one "is in death process" was soooo freaking sad 😢

[@Max-km4hj]

I saw your comment before as a sense of de javu

[@The_Andvarius]

we are all in death process the moment we are born

[@Mandellav73]

Right, which ties into the circular framing of Hannah and her name being a palindrome, the same backwards as forwards. When we die, we could trace time backwards to birth. We are also life process. Humans just happen to experience linear forward time, but movies can be played on loop.

[@MrAjpurdue]

The creator this video passed away from brain cancer. I just leaned after watching his videos. This just made me cry my eyes out

[@marshayame]

This and Sicario are two of my favorite films and to think Denis probably hasn't even made his best film yet is such a wonderful thing to keep looking forward to.

[@fredgrimley8883]

Arrival is a once in a generation movie that's highly underappreciated. Once I saw Arrival, I was able to figure out Deja Vue. The French had it right, it's 'seen before' not done before. When we sleep, we let go of our conscious manipulations of decision points and we can see all the possible decision points we will make. Sometimes, we get it right (or remember it), and when we get to that exact decision point, we remember it as Deja Vue, because we have seen it before. Also, at the time this movie was released, I was delving deep into the nature of Quantum Existence Reality. For me, everything I've experienced has led me to believe that we exist as individual Quantum Entities (our own quantum supercomputer) and that we make reality as we go. Timespace is the after effect of our existence, not the other way around, as was commonly thought. The more we exist, the bigger Quantum Existence Reality gets. Put simply, we are the reason the universe is expanding.

[@fredgrimley8883]

BTW, the scene where I started to figure out deja vu (spelled correctly), is where Louise manipulates 'forward' and tells her daughter 'zero-sum-game'. This is poignant because she will now have to follow that same decision path in her reality to get to that point. Some will argue that seeing reality in this manner takes away free will, and the argument can be made if we ever had free will to begin with, but those are good arguments to have.

[@kenhatfield7712]

Mostly wrong, what would the universe be expanding into? false egyptian nothingness teaching.you are able to subtract one from one? think again, youre on the sorta right path, maybe you should employ a guide?

[@fredgrimley8883]

@@kenhatfield7712 How is it wrong? Show your 'proofs' of how I'm wrong.

[@fredgrimley8883]

@@kenhatfield7712 "Mostly wrong, what would the universe be expanding into?" It's not 'expanding into' anything, it's simply growing. I never implied what it's expanding into, or where it would be expanding. The best science we have is showing that the known reality universe is expanding. www.space.com/universe-expanding-fast-new-physics.html

[@infinityhumour]

How can i be in touch with you?

[@kkeelty64]

Loved the connection between the room (where the humans interact with the aliens) looking like a movie screen. I would also point out that the alien ships, in addition to being an echo of 2001's monoliths, are also slightly *lens* shaped, seeming to reference how our eyes gather light and focuses it on our retina.

[@dirkdiggler2430]

Given our human nature, being able to see your life in a circle all at once would be extremely painful. We would have to evolve into something else in order for us not to go insane by the fact that you are able to see everything and not be able to change a thing.

[@MinamiJP]

I watched the film when released, and out of nowhere, durling my study of language, these images - unique pictographes came back to my mind and ended up to find this wonderful explanation. Thanks for making me deeper, immerce to the world.

[@brawlbrewer7509]

this film is very related to the post modern philosophy

[@kumomeme7852]

this movie is really underrated. it blown me away when watched it at first time

[@clayaggeles]

Rest in Peace, brother. This video is so insightful and reflects its own memory of you, odd that I would find it in the future

[@stephfroilan3758]

well said. thanks for your sharing your brilliance with all of us Matt.

[@antifaantira3877]

a decade ago i remember watching a documentary and there was a linguistics professor saying that our languages will someday evolve in such a level that we would be able to explain colors to blind people successfully.

[@dyo1001]

IF you watch this movie a second time, immediately after watching it the first time, you can understand the alien language.

[@jonathangriffiths2499]

Well done , you understood

[@YahsGurlL7]

What!

[@snakeyman5560]

@@YahsGurlL7 I think he means that we know what they said after the characters told us what the symbols mean when we watched it the first time so when we watch it a second time, we know what the aliens are saying before the characters do. I think....

[@YahsGurlL7]

@@snakeyman5560 im gonna go watch it qgain!

[@phapnui]

☧

[@Audimattis77]

Watched it again 7 years later as this was in my top 10 of all time. And still just as amazing today. I think the pacing with the build up is brilliant with huge meaning and depth to it at the end. Absolute masterpiece.

[@unmemory1970]

How I loved this film -- I ended up watching it twice in two consecutive days in the theater when it was first released. I had initially watched it out of a more intellectual interest, having a bit of an obsession with language and perception (that's all I really knew of the film initially). But I did not expect the emotional impact of the film once one realizes that Dr. Banks is not remembering events of the *past* but "remembering the future" - a future which includes her choice to have a daughter, knowing full and well that she will die young, and how she will die. This immediately brought to mind the kind of "Nietzschean affirmation" expressed as a embrace of life that necessarily includes not only all joy, but all sorrow as well: "Have you ever said Yes to a single joy? O my friends, then you have said Yes too to all woe. All things are entangled, ensnared, enamored; if ever you wanted one thing twice, if ever you said, 'You please me, happiness! Abide, moment!' then you wanted all back. All anew, all eternally, all entangled, ensnared, enamored - oh then you loved the world. Eternal ones, love it eternally and evermore; and to woe too, you say: go, but return! For all joy wants - eternity." Or, in the words of Seneca, "Habere eripitur, habuisse numquam," which translates from the terse Latin into English as: "To have" may be taken away, [but] "to have had" never. Or yet again, in Rilke's Ninth Elegy: "Once for each thing. Just once; no more. And we too, / just once. And never again. But to have been / this once, completely, even if only once: / to have been at one with the earth, seems beyond undoing." Arrival truly captured the emotional spirit of this embrace of what I like to call "onceness": the deep realization that life is *inherently* impermanent and yet it is precisely *because* of this very impermanence that life is indeed something invaluable - and not just the parts of life that we find pleasing.

[@Hannari-xt6nr]

I think this film was amazing for western and african or middle eastern audiences. For people from the Far East who think in a circular way, it was the movie i ask any of my western and african and middle eastern friends (anyone coming from the abrahamic religions, the cross religion, the star religion and the moon religion) to watch so they can understand how we think in far east asia. In the abrahamic beliefs, you believe that everything starts and ends and that time is linear, but in Japan and India we believe that nothing never starts and nothing never ends and that time is circular. Many of my abrahamic friends think i am wrong because you have birth, life and death, but for us it is always rebirth, life and transition into another life through rebirth again, and the circle goes on and on forever. It is the same way our solar system and galaxies work. Everything spins on itself and spins around things and eventually goes back to the very same point , and this has been going on and on and on for billions of years, so clearly it is all circular not linear. It also shows that god is a concept, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, it means that it is not a human being in the sky or some old sage sitting on a lotus flower. God is everything and anything. It is the water i drink, the dream i have, the dreams, my dogs have, the equal value and balance of everything, it is cause and consequences in a circular way always, it is love, it is hatred (although neither exist, they are just different spectrums of a circular emotion, like men and women, human and animals, day and night, it is all circular and has neither any meaning or whatever meaning you want to give it. For me this film was the most natural thing in the world. Holy books are just books, there are as many as they has been civilizations and cultures. There are over 5000 folly books on the planet depending on what deity you pray to. One is not more relevant than the other based on number of devotees or how old that particular faith is. India and Sumer (ancient Persia and ancient Iraq) have some of the oldest holy books in the world, predating the abrahamic religions and holy books by over 1000 years. Jainism, one of the most accomplished an d logical religion in the world (by far the most pacifist) is over 5000 years old and has no god, because for Jains god is a circular concept in everything and of everything. Actually the aliens in the movie are pretty much Jain when you think of it. In Asia this film truly felt like drinking a glass of water, it was very natural and very familiar. I think this film should have been called Samsara and Ahimsa as it defines it in a way. We must also keep in mind that this film is based on the book by Ted Chiang (Story of your life) Chiang is basically a genius, he wrote 18 absolutely phenomenal books. He is also a graduate from Brown, with a degreee in science and computer science and his father is a professor of mechanical engineering. His parents were old school, Chinese citizens who left china before the revolution or no doubt their fate was sealed. Old school chinese erudites like his parents (his mother was a professor of ancient literature and theology in China), believed in those old concepts which originated in the Indus Valley, concept that have long been abandoned and destroyed by modern China, but still exist today like the concepts of Yin and Yang which we all know. It makes perfect sense that this film is based on a classically educated Asian writer who not only understands science but was also educated in ancient asian values (and i don't mean discipline and obedience and filial piety !, these are very modern asian values.

[@alphaomega154]

i give you the spoiler and understanding for those who have watched it but still dont get it, : the "WEAPON" word translation was a misperception by the human translators, which actually the word ADVANTAGE. it has BROAD implications. which can refer to "skills", power, ability, resources, etc , everything that put you in "ADVANTAGE". thats why the alien said "use weapon". the moral in the story is, YOU SHOULD USE YOUR ADVANTAGE. whatever it is. skills, influence, etc. in the story, the character louise has been given the ability to see TRAJECTORY in life. (by the alien i think when they touch the glass together). so the louise character perceived it as a "gift". while it actual meaning is ADVANTAGE. and her advantage is that ability to see the future and the trajectory of time. and the aliens sees in the time trajectories that some 3 thousand years later, they will meet with human race from earth again in some event that would have the aliens in needing situations and the humans are the nearest ones available that could change things. at least thats what the story is implying. and i love how the story describe the "universal language" in visuals, in the shape of LOOP. no not the "twisted" number 8 no, LOOP. a CIRCLE. because thats COHERENT WITH REALITY OF THE UNIVERSE. thats how things goes. space and time. that is the shape of "existence". contradictory to human's number "zero". the loop circle shape actually means EXISTENCE. it has no ends. in the real universe, ETERNITY is a LOOP CIRCLE shape. not number 8.

[@Neo_Lein]

your explanation help me a lot to understand the film thanks o7

[@crowdelivery]

k.

[@crystellejadef.lavador4108]

kamay is a Tagalog word for hand and kamot is a Visayan word for hand also. I'm both a Filipino and a Visayan and I'm genuinely flattered to see my language are highlighted even for a second. I'm maybe overreacting forgive me... I'm just really happy the feeling is so weird. Thanks Logos Made Flesh❤

[@isengarde9490]

The most science fiction part of this film is China, Russia, and Pakistan all willingly working with Western Nations.

[@Marcus-gw4bb]

I quite enjoyed the movie but I kind of agree as well. For me the most science fiction part of the film is when Amy Adams character called the general of the Chinese military and told him his wife's dying words and the very next scene is him calling an immediate ceasefire and sharing information with other countries. Like the alien language being perceived as a weapon, in turn allowing the perception of time to be nonlinear, all that I can buy. But that? I mean come on... Imagine some random person on the phone tells you your wife's dying words. I'd freak out and just end the call.

[@TL-sk6xf]

@@Marcus-gw4bbWell, to be totally fair, that’s because you’re stupid.

[@Marcus-gw4bb]

@@TL-sk6xf Well, to be totally fair, let me try calling you and tell you about your loved ones dying words. Stupid

[@kyju7093]

​@@Marcus-gw4bb 1. its a movie? lol and 2. we dont even know what she says, plus shes a linguist so im pretty sure she fluent in mandarin and told him the wife thing to convince him that the aliens are telling the truth that their "weapon" is just the language and seeing time as non linear. she basically told him the plot to the movie and used his wifes words to convince him shes telling the truth

[@Marcus-gw4bb]

​@@kyju7093"Its a movie lol" Then proceeds to argue with me about said movie. Also, because why tackle thought-provoking themes with such realism in a movie, that's just stupid, right?

[@alirizvi7143]

The explanation in and of itself is an art. The expression is so riveting that it enlightens you intellectually and psychologically.

[@glendamaala4564]

My brain just melted trying to understand half the words he said, but the way he said it kept me hookes. Great music.

[@javanpoly4901]

Sir, your exposition of the movie arrival was nothing less than fascinating and intriguing. I have longed for such a video that would metaphysically, philosophically and spiritually explore the far Edge of the known when it comes to language life and meaning. You're a verbal exposition and visual feast we're very much appreciated by this Explorer!

[@JoseMorales-kk8rh]

People are not accustomed to deep thought. Exposure to philosophical concepts is rare. The mind can be continuously developed but it has to be challenged with thought and focus. Humans are still evolving. Some of us are just more developed than others. Thus the advent of the critics who tend to crucify the advanced minds.

[@karlgustav999]

I Am VeRy SmArT

[@GeronimoPlaz]

Time doesn't exist though. That fact alone nullifies any significance of this movie.

[@magpiefrogfrom2556]

GFY

[@cykaboio9353]

You are an incredible creator, you managed to perfectly extract the beauty of this incredible movie and materialize it into words. Thank you.

[@TillisIsDone]

Those who cant see a purpose in this movie simply arent ready and may never be ready. When the movie ended I thought, "wtf." Now it hits me. I appluad your video, well done.

[@CastleKnight7]

The disclosure that is taking place now will reveal immortal spiritual beings that experience non-linear “time” and operate in our “physical”universe through bodies that do not require air, food or water. We are also immortal spiritual beings trapped in a game (several quadrillion years old) of survival. We even believe we are humans that evolved on a planet.

[@NothingMaster]

The Block Universe. “According to the block universe theory, the universe is a giant block of all the things that ever happen at any time and at any place. On this view, the past, present and future all exist - and are equally real.”

[@youngcyclops]

the arrival is one of my favorite movies and i've watched it 5 times. i enjoyed it much. one of the lessons i learned from the movie is to embrace what is in store for us in the future no matter how painful it would be; accept life as it is. however, thanks to this video by explaining the hidden meaning of the movie. i thought, i already got the real point of the story. a big realization that there is more. thanks to this video again and again. this makes me more excited to watching the film again. in addition, i look forward to watching more videos from this channel. kudos! you've got a new subscriber! :)

[@tingle2958]

This comment section is a cesspool. Turn back.

[@orbismala]

Wish I listened

[@lgjm5562]

So I read through the comments. Half say they understood the movie or this video, but then none of them actually shared their answer to the video title. Instead they just talked down to the ones that didn't, as if it's their little secret. I didn't understand either the movie or the video. But my guess is that the aliens came to teach humans how to think on a higher level. That's it.

[@MrGenyaAvacado]

Instructions unclear, too late to turn back. My stare into the abyss of the cesspool only to see the reflection stare back.

[@bijitghosh4024]

The movie proves its easier to communicate with an alien than nations communicating amongs themselves.

[@gusgrizzel8397]

Because one is immediate.

[@stuffnuns]

Arrival instantly became one of my favorite films. It is a beautiful, intellectually rich, thought-provoking film. Thanks for this video. I hope this will cause more people to see it. Or watch it again. What a gorgeous film. Amy Adams’ performance is a lesson in great film acting, too. A perfect choice for the role.

[@amosho261]

The limits of my language is the limit of my thought, that was the exact thought that i had when i first watched the movie.

[@randybugger3006]

It's fairly well accepted among educators that the greater one's language skill, the easier and better one learns. Someone with poor language skills may be smart, but those with excellent language skills are smart in more ways.

[@Josephine-Padlock]

As a someone who is not only sci-fi enjoyer, but also used to study linguistic at university, I was just absolutely amazed by this film! So mind blowing! And I am so glad that you’ve pointed out Space odyssey references, since both films share similar themes - working with a new, advanced tools and technology, circle of life and also to some extent even becoming better human being.

[@Godspeednihilo]

These new comments are disappointing. People are so terrible at immersing themselves in philosophical media that tackles metaphysics.

[@ewen666]

This is the sort of video that really shows that short video essays can be an incredible form of art and amazingly interesting, thanks so much!

[@julieanderson100]

I'm going to have to watch this video a few times to digest what was said. Arrival was the most thought-provoking movie I had seen in a long time. I've read the short story twice and have seen the movie 3 times so far. Honestly, I had been rather uninspired and bored by so many films - or frustrated by what I saw as intellectual sleight-of-hand (Inception). But Arrival was so very interesting, especially when you think about the physics discussed in the original story. I had/have been struggling with the death of my beloved dog Atlas. It destroyed me, but at the same time - I knew the end of that story before he was born- as I know the end of my own story, and I would still choose to know and love him for however brief a time it was. I understand Louise's choice. (I know the last word is a bit loaded.) Anyway, glad to see others really thinking about this film. Thanks.

[@moonpeanuts]

This blew my brain out, I’ve never paid so much attention in class as I did for this video... it makes me want to learn a lot more about languages and philosophy so I can fully understand

[@helenwalker2986]

That was absolutely stunning... I cant tell you how many points of reference I have to what I just saw.. Including the T. S Elliot quote... Thank you so much...

[@kavitasundesha533]

Shang's wife's last words, translated into English, were "In war, there are no winners, only widows".

[@gusgrizzel8397]

Not true. One side does win.

[@aleksandartonev8472]

this storytelling these perfectly picked shots , beautiful make more videos you have a gift

[@benjaminzepp367]

Arrival Tenet Watchman Episode 8 These have recently blown my mind and all have to do with experiencing time in a non-linear way. Whether time is a circle or a shape with cannot comprehend, all 3 operate under the same assumption and helped me better grasp the idea of "time"

[@theArchive1O]

expand

[@LandonPark]

Arrival is based on the Nebula-winning science fiction novella "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang, written in 1998. The novella involves Earth's first communication with heptapods who speak in a cryptic language.

[@TheMathieu2011]

My generation is lucky to still have directors like Nolan and Villeneuve... Producing intellectually and visually entertaining movies!

[@toniecat1028]

I loved this film - the first time I saw it and the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and so forth. Yes, I've seen it many times and I get something different every time - and every time I love it more! Yes, fully circular. 🤯

[@74enoch]

Oh man, I saw Tenet, then Memento the other night, and Arrival tonight. I think your analysis is spot on! I personally feel like your channel is unfolding like these movies with your diagnosis last year. Truly you can see the future in the past with your videos and I look forward to connecting every person that will listen with your channel, these movies, and how they fit right into the biblical narrative. I think directors have a thing for chiasms for the last few years!

[@youthnation1]

I plan on doing a video on tenet soon after finishing cast Away

[@Ashallmusica]

The movie depicts the Positive side of what we humans think about of Aliens. We always hype with the negative feelings whenever we (if) contact with them. Like they're gonna destroy us, like something. But Arrival is different than those sci-fi fantasy Alien movies.

[@shravanburagapu8364]

This is such an elaborate interpretation of the movie. Often people do not want to dive into the meaning behind a piece of artwork, because they might be, what they call occupied. But these kind of videos really make me feel good about looking at things that we already know in a non conventional perspective. And I am really glad that I searched for this. Subscribed.

[@mrteaparty6090]

Quick Question: how does the story in Arrival comment on the human condition ‐ how we react to threats and retain our humanity ‐ that is inherent in science fiction genre?

[@dejablueguitar]

ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME!!! IT'S A FANTASTIC FILM - Beautiful & FULL of Meaning!!

[@AGoodJoe]

This movie broke me. In the first 5 minutes I was crying, thanks to the brilliant soundtrack. What followed has had me rethinking everything. One of the most brilliant Sci-fi films I've ever seen. I think Kubrick would have been proud of this one.

[@Meddio2]

B.R.U.H.

[@sourkoyote]

"Language directly effects how you view the world. It directly effects how you think." My history teacher in 6th grade: "Latin is a dead language because we just didn't have any uses for it anymore."

[@geneseedesigns]

The movie has become a quiet part of my life, like a character in a novel becomes part of your memories and is almost like family. I can say the same about 1917. Finally, some visionary film making instead of Spiderman 56.

[@Seriksy]

The most unrealistic thing about this movie is humans or nations working together

[@legisnuntius]

What, like finding a Covid vaccine?

[@jared_r]

The humans destroyed themselves, the aliens prevented it.

[@alapandas6398]

Probably I haven't watched the movie yet. But I have been dreaming about the scenes of the movie that I will watch in future.

[@jamieoxenham1656]

Mbaaaa haaaaa!

[@astrology4divination]

This film made me believe in the language of cinema again as a tool for expanding human consciousness versus the distorted, Hollywood cult is has evolved into for the average viewer. Thank you for this breakdown, such a profound & wonderful film. As someone who studied linguistics & linguistic anthropology in Uni I nerdgasmed throughout the entire film #squeal

[@WhirlingMusic]

I watched this movie for a third time but with grandparents because I wanted them to experience something different for once. They didn't get a lot of what was happening and I happily explained but they still ended up hating the movie. Idk. I think the movie is beautiful. I hate sci-fi movies but this is a human movie full stop

[@jimbocho660]

It was an OK movie. Being able to see the future is Science Fantasy not Science Fiction. Couldn't take it seriously after that.

[@idiotandco.1750]

@@jimbocho660 an inability to take a movie for its own merits is the fault of you. not the movie.

[@maxsync183]

@@jimbocho660 theres a video on youtube called "Arrival Explaind" by Logos Made Flesh that explains the concept pretty well, give it a watch.

[@JD1886]

This interpretation is so amazing. Thank you for this. The Arrival is my favorite movie in all of my life - your analysis just lays out why I had an unspoken, deep connection with this film that turned into my own similar understanding of this beautiful films language like Banks with the Hepapods advanced language. No other film will ever come close to the ethereal quality that this masterpiece has. Dennis and everything he coordinated is legendary and I know in my heart this will be one of the greatest science fiction cinematic masterpieces of all time. This movie's brilliance will only become more and more impactful over time. And at the heart of it is the alien language you so eloquently analyzed, defined and broke down for all of us viewers. It is the most beautiful and unique aspect of this amazing film. Thank you again for this.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

And God that last quote is so epic. Just broke down man. Again, it's amazing what a second viewing can do. I was likely distracted too much last time. Had to subscribe after that. Beautiful work.

[@youthnation1]

Home Studio Basics Thanks for the critique. I’ve never gone to school for this. It’s something I’ve just picked up and sound has been something everyone has said I have a problem with. Been really trying to get better at it.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@youthnation1 No worries. Hah lol man I know you're probably sick of hearing about it. Trust me the main thing on my channel is always "What's up with the auto focus motor sound?" And I've talked about it like ad-nausea so apologies for bringing this to light for the thousandth time. I really enjoy your calm demeanor and thoughtful analyses. :) Keep it up!

[@youthnation1]

Appreciate it. Just checked our your channel. It looks like sound is of particular interest to you. Do you mind if I call on you for help in the future?

[@Charlie-fy5fy]

I'm from Venezuela, precisely from Maracay, the place where one of the ships arrived. And I'm learning English, this video made me feel something I cannot describe. Thanks for it.

[@yettimannettii2039]

what tf have you been smoking?

[@jameswebb3410]

@@yettimannettii2039 What's your problem shut up

[@yettimannettii2039]

@@jameswebb3410 shut me up. go ahead.

[@yettimannettii2039]

@@jameswebb3410 thats what I thought

[@jameswebb3410]

@@yettimannettii2039 Ahahahaha you ain't fooling anybody that you can even make a serious thought with all that shit you got in your head Go fuck yourself ahahaha what a clown

[@Michaelonyoutub]

Arrival is made even more compelling when you know of how language really does effect our ability to perceive the world. Humans are commonly believed to have a very terrible sense of directions, we walk in circles when in the wilderness and can easily lose our way, especially compare to many other animals that can travel thousands of kilometers and arrive exactly where they intend to. A aboriginal tribe in Australia however, has a language where instead of talking about things in terms of left and right, they use north, south, east, and west, so they have a north foot and a south foot and when they turn around they switch. Knowing what direction is north is very important for that language and so people from that tribe have an amazing instinctual ability to tell directions, far superior to other people, significantly better than humans were initially believed to be capable of. So if language could bring out a dormant ability within humans to instinctually tell where north is, then it effecting our ability to perceive time does not seem as far fetched as it may have initially appeared. There have actually been many documented cases of how language affects our ability to distinguish colour, if a language has words for different colours, then people who speak those languages will have an easier time distinguishing them.

[@jimbocho660]

No language can give you the power to see the future.

[@Mr_Bones.]

He never said that, dumbass

[@Mr_Bones.]

Great comment, i didn’t know that about aboriginals and that’s cool.

[@stanislavstoimenov1729]

What's more, the Heptapods had names. Which means that they're individuals; they're not a part of some hive or some such. Individuals have individuality and personality, which means specific interests, many of which vital. Thus, they must have some kind of a political process, through which the different individuals are coordinated in the Heptapods' highly advanced society. Practicing politics also means that the notion of violent conflict ought to be well known to them... It wouldn't be surprising if war is a constant in their history as well...

[@pdcdesign9632]

Yes, their names were KODOS and KANG.😁

[@OwnedEpicStyle]

They was named Demetrius and DaKevin

[@stanislavstoimenov1729]

@@pdcdesign9632 I'm sorry, I don't get the joke. If it's a joke, that is...

[@pdcdesign9632]

@@stanislavstoimenov1729 Just google those names. The Simpsons.

[@khadijagwen]

It is refreshing that the movie was presented mostly violence free. Why do humans assume that violence is necessary? I've watched this several time and may do it more.

[@MissMandelshtam]

This video gives me so much inspiration to learn more and be able to understand complex philosophical concepts . Truly thankful ❤

[@cakestealer5983]

God there sure is a lot of whining in these comments. Who knew this movie was so controversial. At least for KZbin comments.

[@danielmiller2886]

Everything is controversial when everyone is able to comment on every piece of media and communication they interact with ( and now feel that they MUST comment). It’s like sitting in one room with millions of people all trying to talk over each other, to the point that words mean nothing anymore. Two ears and one mouth for a reason.

[@noahlapuz3853]

perhaps one of the most important film reviews here in youtube

[@supermichaelssecondchannel4342]

Incredible explanation of the film. The way you delivered your understanding of the film helped me look at it through new metaphorical lenses.

[@MFM230]

Arrival is a great film and I saw it a couple of times, but this video is extremely insightful in identifying connections that I missed. Thank you!

[@tweakradje]

Together with Interstellar in my top 10. "If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things" makes you think. Think about yesterday, today and tomorrow.

[@party4keeps28]

KZbin has been recommending this video to me for a while now and I skipped passed it many times because I didn't know the channel, and I already knew the movie well. As I've now watched this video, I'm pleasantly surprised. Very well done.

[@Opentobeing12]

Brilliant analysis of one of the greatest films of all time, sent perhaps from the future to bring us resolutely into the present and free us from the bonds of our own limitations. 🙏

[@sammyj2917]

I love these videos and this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Great job!

[@gaarderzone]

Thanks for summarizing and amplifying my impressions about the film. I saw it more than a dozen times and I usually recall my memories about the film to contemplate about the time, languages, or cultural patterns. This video represents a real quality.

[@absohlutely]

Great video. I watched Arrival over 25 times. Your video helped me appreciate its brilliance more. Your work is the frosting on the gift this film brought to my life. I’m still watching it. Keep up the good work.

[@HueyFreemanGOAT]

not to sound rude but why have you watched the film so many times?

[@sunsioux444]

this is an absolutely brilliant analysis. I loved this movie, and I think it also has to do with the dawn (arrival) of a new higher consciousness in man, as part of our continued evolution and growth

[@ChristopherButeau]

This was a fun analysis and observations post. I especially appreciated your notice of her walking pattern changing from linear to circular. It was a fabulous movie with several clever whoah scenes executed. It was a rental for me that i soon collected...gotta watch again and again...

[@briangreenwood7233]

I love this movie and your video helped me understand it a little bit more. To many including myself it's a complex movie, but I find it quite beautiful in every aspect. Thank you for making this.

[@brigidrohde4874]

I’ve ventured within To know what I know The visions encountered Have much to show We can go within To find our all The wholeness embraced A timeless call The end is the beginning In the absence of time The circle of life Is in whole ... sublime! Coming together In unity and love Our purpose on earth Is to rise above! The full completion Of the here and now Is that everything we experience Is the language of how..... How to unite In a language of Source The arrival of love Is the unified launguage of course! By Brigid A Rohde 6-20-2020

[@anthonyo.thector32]

Nice👏👍

[@jonhumphries8574]

That's a fabulous summary and insight into this powerful modern parable. Thank you for the time and effort which has gone into this helpful and thorough analysis. For me it opens much about theology and how it shapes us and how we shape it.

[@MR_THINQ]

One of the best movies ever, this I think is how we would actually have to learn to communicate when we make first contact.

[@thefisherking78]

The most interesting sci-fi to me is the stuff where the aliens are so different from us that we struggle to communicate at all. It adds such an element of chaos and uncertainty

[@robot_spider]

Read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Very much deals with the pragmatic, necessary complications of "real" first contact. Language, communication, even environmental differences between sentient species.

[@MR_THINQ]

@@robot_spider thanks - will do! 😎👍🏻

[@PowerDiva]

I'm usually pretty good at putting clues together in movies like this, but you touched on a few things that I missed in this movie. Well done.

[@jameshose5043]

thank you just watched arrival for the second time since 2016 and this piece by you clinches my understanding outstanding video