And then there is the score by Jóhann Jóhannsson (RIP). It is not a heroic orchestral score. It is a low, rumbling, almost painful vibration mixed with haunting piano. It makes your chest tighten. It conveys the weight of time and grief without a single word. Arrival came out in 2016, but it feels more relevant today. We live in a world of instant translation, fractured communication, and global tension. The film shows that the biggest barrier to peace isn't weapons—it's misunderstanding.
The film’s non-linear structure mimics the aliens’ consciousness. We assume the flashbacks of Louise’s daughter (Hannah) are memories of a tragedy that has already occurred. We see the birth, the childhood, the illness, and the death. arrival english movie
Louise is given a vision of the future: She will marry Ian, have a daughter named Hannah, and that daughter will die at age 12 from a rare, incurable disease. Ian, unable to cope with the knowledge of the loss, will leave her. And then there is the score by Jóhann Jóhannsson (RIP)
Louise looks at Ian (who does not yet know their future) and makes a conscious decision. She chooses to love him. She chooses to have Hannah. She chooses to hold her daughter, read her stories, and watch her laugh, knowing with absolute certainty that she will have to watch her die. It makes your chest tighten