I remember that I didn't understand the meaning of this sentence at the time. In other words, I think this sentence is a bit mysterious. Of course, then I revisited the CONTACT played by Jodie Foster, and I suddenly felt like I got it.
I have always felt that watching the film adapted from the novel has a YY mentality that wants to get a glimpse of the true meaning of the master through the images of the popularization and simplification of the master's words. Therefore, taking the film instead of the original to talk about things, I feel a little empty in my heart. However, writing a few words for this film that made me cry 3 times before and after, I feel confident no matter what.
The story itself is simple enough. In fact, it is a story of a strong woman who has harvested the truth and gained love. It has the routine of a typical American sensational blockbuster: the girl who had lost her loved ones with a dream of starry sky since she was a child became a female scientist. In order to explore the unknown life, she stuck to her dream and finally defeated the obstacles of the college, the government, and the military. Disturbed, successfully landed on Vega, discovered a whole new world, and even met the soul of the dead "father" there. I don't want to waste time repeating this story. I'd like to talk about a few things that moved me -
when Ellie Airoway (Foster) was given the opportunity to explore Vega on a government-expensive accelerator time-travel facility, she felt conflicted Meet your lover, Father Jos, by the lake. Ellie knew that the price of this trip was probably to die halfway, but she said to the man: "I have been thinking since I was a child, what a great and magnificent universe this is, if I have the opportunity in this life, even if I only have a glimpse of it. It's 1/100 of the secret, even if I sacrifice my life, I don't feel pity." The next picture is that Jos looked at the woman in front of him with extremely surprised and calm eyes and said, "You're incredibly brave." This kind of melodrama plot, but I was moved immediately. I think if there is such a woman in this world, she must be the most beautiful. Even if the man couldn't understand her like Father Joss.
Vega's journey has come true. Ellie saw the figure of her dead father on a silver beach under a blue sky. The same tall, the same kindness. But her father told her that he was actually an alien on Vega, the target who had been sending signals to the earth, inspiring this woman to come and explore the truth. Here is a twist of the film: Does this father figure really exist? What is the significance of such an image?
No matter what the director wants to express, I think Ellie is looking for two things, scientific truth and family affection. Jos was once asked by Ellie: You are a priest who believes in God, but there is no evidence, how do you know that God exists? Jos asked back: Do you love your father? Then let Ellie prove it. Ellie is speechless. It is very simple, because love itself is a kind of truth, and what is considered to be irrational and purely ontological does not contradict scientific truth. Love may not be able to make sense because it is not math and does not need proof. When Ellie met her "father" on Vega, and saw that the goal of the scientific ideal she was pursuing was combined with family affection, she didn't care anymore. So when she returned to Earth, facing the camera that didn't record any images and a face full of doubts, she said: I can't prove that I really went to Vega, but I can't deny it. Because I feel it, I experience it. One of the film's biggest themes is here: The "unprovable" that Ellie once despised has instead become a testimony she uses to defend herself.
Some people may ask: Isn't this against the original intention of the film? Isn't the film promoting the spirit of pursuing the pinnacle of science?
In my opinion, this is more of a film that celebrates idealism and humanity. And these two things are essential to the pursuit of scientific truth, otherwise science is nothing but an excuse to realize selfish desires. "When you stare at the vast universe, you will know how small we are...", and the alien "father" told her on Vega: "The history of thousands of years has proved that people can only interact with people. Feeling lonely." What this pseudo-scientific phrase really means is that you only feel fulfilled and hopeful when you place yourself in the wider world and ideals.
Of course, there is something interesting about the film. That's why a woman scientist can be in love with a priest. One seeks evidence, the other is a preacher of God. This film naturally resolves this contradiction with an idealistic tone: both have great love. Just one is the love of God, and the other is the love of the universe-life. Not being able to prove that God exists is like not being able to prove that they have been to Vega and met their father, but they can both feel that love. This is the link that connects the two opposites. At the end of the film, Jos smiled and said to the reporter who wanted to see Ellie's joke: "Although we have different beliefs, we have reached the same goal, that is, we all pursue the truth. I believe in her."
I also believe in her. Believe that we must have the ability to love, have a reverence for the universe and love for life, and believe that if we believe that we belong to a greater being, then when we leave this world, our ashes are only turned into the universe A speck of stardust.
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