How Denis Villeneuve created the world of Arrival

Case studies
January 13, 2023
4 min read
A still from Denis Villeneuve's Arrival, shot by Bradford Young.
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Denis Villeneuve was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1967. He began his career as a filmmaker in the late 1980s, directing several short films. In the late-1990s, he made his feature film debut with August 32nd on Earth.

01 · Denis Villeneuve's early life and career

Denis Villeneuve's early life and career

Villeneuve's early films were well-received, but it was his 2010 film Incendies that brought him international acclaim. The film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

After the success of Incendies, Villeneuve began to work on bigger budget Hollywood films. In 2013, he released Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $100 million at the box office.

Villeneuve's next film was Sicario, a crime thriller starring Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $84 million at the box office.

In 2016, Villeneuve released Arrival, a science fiction film starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $200 million at the box office.

Arrival is set in the near future, where a group of aliens known as the Heptapods arrive on Earth. The film follows linguist Louise Banks (Adams), who is recruited by the military to try to communicate with the aliens.

A muted, atmospheric still from Denis Villeneuve's Arrival.
A frame from Arrival, shot by Bradford Young.
02 · The design of the aliens in Arrival

The design of the aliens in Arrival

The design of the aliens in Arrival was inspired by a drawing that Villeneuve's daughter made of an octopus. The aliens in the film are referred to as the Heptapods, and they have seven legs. The design of the aliens was inspired by a drawing that Villeneuve's daughter made.

The creation of the language was a collaboration between Villeneuve and linguist Jessica Coon. Together, they created a new language for the film, which is based on an existing language called Toda.

The language was created through a process of trial and error, and it took several months to complete. In the end, the Heptapod language is a combination of spoken words, gestures, and written symbols.

The film's script was originally written in English, but Villeneuve decided to have it translated into the Heptapod language. This was done so that the actors would have to learn the language, and it would add to the realism of the film.

Famous stills from Arrival

A still from Arrival showing the Heptapods' circular logogram language.
The Heptapod logograms, central to the film's design.

One of the most famous stills from Arrival is the scene where Amy Adams' character, Louise, is teaching the Heptapod language to a group of soldiers. This scene is significant because it shows the importance of communication and understanding.

Another famous still from Arrival is the scene where Louise is talking to the Heptapods for the first time. This scene is significant because it shows the aliens' perspective of time, and how they see the future.

A still from Arrival of Louise meeting the Heptapods at the barrier.
Louise meets the Heptapods for the first time.
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03 · In closing

In closing

Arrival is a thought-provoking film that is sure to stay with you long after the credits have rolled. The film's use of language, visuals, and flashbacks are all key elements that help to create a unique and memorable experience. If you're looking for a film that will make you think, Arrival is definitely worth a watch.

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