going about her days, teaching her students. And yet, in terms of significant speaking roles, Louise is a Token Woman. Other than brief interactions with her daughter (who dies), and a telephone conversation with her mother (who is neither seen nor heard), Louise is not afforded the opportunity to speak to another woman – because in Arrival, they barely exist. Sure, there are one or two female background artists in the camp, and a couple of her students are women – but it seems that Louise is the only woman with relevant qualifications or military experience in America.

This makes her exceptional, in that she is the exception to the rule. It suggests that it is a rare thing for a woman to become such an expert in her field that she might play a part in resolving a crisis. Louise is mad...

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