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Science fiction, space opera and fantasy often tend to blur at the edges, and many popular books and programs intermarry these elements so that the audience often tends to confuse them. SF which contains healthy and intellectually stimulating hard science can often be hard to find - and so is all the more special when it makes an appearance.
Welcome to "Contact", the 1997 film based upon the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan. It is a rare gem - entertaining and human yet full of intellectual honesty; containing exciting and challenging conjectures which examine the meaning of life, the Universe and everything.
Sagan's original novel poured scorn upon traditional gender stereotypes and clichés. The protagonist, Dr. Ellie Arroway (who is interestingly a pastiche of Sagan and a couple of women, notably his partner) is a strong-willed, courageous and determined woman. Her nemesis is a man - religious scholar Palmer Joss, who along with Ellie serves to reverse society's traditional gender roles in the fight of science versus religion.
Ellie Arroway - whose name was apparently taken from Eleanor Roosevelt and Voltaire (Arouet) - is a scientist dedicated to the SETI search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. She is forced to search for intelligence on this planet also, as she battles religious fundamentalists and economic rationalist politicians who seek to shred her program.
Jodie Foster convincingly portrays a character on a mission for science as Ellie makes contact with alien life and ruthlessly pursues her own quest to find her truth. But is the truth an absolute, or must it, by definition, contain subjective elements equivalent to religious faith?
The story contains elements of Sagan's own battle to reconcile science versus superstition. "Contact" even possibly serves as a prophecy of modern-day terrorism by examining the extremes to which the narrow-minded will go to defend the indefensible. But at all times, the story retains the gritty realism of hard science. The film producers deserve credit for having the intellectual fortitude to retain these elements in the film instead of turning it into a Hollywood fantasy.
The final challenge from "Contact" comes near its start when someone asks Ellie a question about our relationship to the Universe and to each other: What is it that compels you to search the heavens for life when there's so much of it being neglected right here at home? This is an answer we must all seek for ourselves.
For a glimpse into a wonderfully strong female role model, check out:
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