Tension and miscommunication often arise between those who speak different languages and those from different cultures. Surprisingly, the film Arrival displays an effective form of communication despite a language barrier and explores the significance and power of language in constructing reality through determining the intentions of an alien race. Twelve alien pods locate themselves in twelve different parts around the world leaving each country to take separate approaches in figuring out the aliens’ purpose on Earth. Although there were many different approaches and progressions in communicating with the seven-legged aliens, called heptapods, the question of why Louise Banks, the linguist, was the only successful person in understanding the