Arrival: IndieWeb Movie Club

For the April IndieWeb Movie Club, my selection is Arrival (2016).

It is a unique approach to the science fiction story of aliens visiting Earth. Even if you don’t usually like the genre, I hope you’ll give it a chance because there’s some thought-provoking questions and deeper emotion in it. I’ve found it quite moving on multiple viewings.

A couple years ago I remembered that it was based on Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life” and I read it in his collection Stories of Your Life and Others. I enjoyed the whole collection and gave it five stars. If you enjoy the movie, I recommend checking it out as well. I lean towards recommending the movie first because it is more fleshed out and potentially a stronger impact in that form. I could be wrong, though; that’s just the order I experienced them in.

Arrival trailer

You’re invited to watch the movie and write a post on your site sharing your thoughts on it! You can share your link using the form below (webmention), leaving a comment, or tagging me elsewhere. The format is pretty casual; your post can be a short note, blog post, or review. I will keep an updated lists of participants on this page.

In the US, it is available on Kanopy, which I was recently reminded is usually free with your local library card. Visit JustWatch to find other options for streaming/renting in your region.

Submissions

• IndieWeb Movie Club April 2026: Arrival by Sara Jakša