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Contact (1997) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Contact (1997) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1997 · 150 min · English
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
Starring
Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey
Budget
$90M

Jason finds his world unraveling when his loved one vanishes without a trace. Driven by desperation, he embarks on a relentless search for answers. As he investigates, the lines between reality and illusion become increasingly blurred, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew. The search plunges him into a bewildering journey where the familiar transforms into the unknown.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Contact
  9. 9 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Contact (1997)

Where can you watch Contact? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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2 main characters · contains spoilers

Contact Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Contact (1997), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster)

    Dr. Ellie Arroway is a determined scientist devoted to the search for extraterrestrial life. Her passion for her work stems from her father's influence, driving her to overcome skepticism and challenges in her quest. Throughout the film, Ellie embodies logical reasoning yet grapples with emotional and spiritual dilemmas.

    • 👩‍🔬 Scientist
    • 🌟 Determined
    • 💔 Complex
  • Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey)

    Palmer Joss is a Christian philosopher and Ellie's love interest, who brings a contrasting perspective to her scientific worldview. His belief in the intersection of faith and technology challenges Ellie to confront her own views. Palmer's character oscillates between support and doubt, reflecting the complexities of love and belief.

    • 💔 Philosopher
    • 🔄 Supportive
    • 🤔 Skeptical

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

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Setting

Where and When Does Contact Take Place?

The setting of Contact (1997): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1990s

The movie is set in the 1990s, a decade during which the world experienced immense technological advancements and growing interest in space exploration. It was a time marked by both optimism and skepticism regarding the potential existence of extraterrestrial life and the implications of such a discovery for humanity.

Location

Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, Very Large Array, New Mexico, Kennedy Space Center, Japan

The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is renowned for its large radio telescope, which is pivotal in the search for extraterrestrial signals. The Very Large Array in New Mexico is another significant facility that supports advanced astrophysical research. The Kennedy Space Center, located in Florida, symbolizes human ambition in space exploration, serving as a launchpad for monumental missions. In Japan, the discovery of a second machine presents an opportunity for global cooperation in understanding the universe.

  • 🏞️ Observatory
  • 🌌 Space
  • 🏗️ Construction

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

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3 major themes

Contact Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Contact (1997) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Exploration

    The theme of exploration is central to 'Contact,' showcasing humanity's unyielding desire to understand the universe. Dr. Ellie Arroway embodies this quest, driven by scientific curiosity and the hope of connecting with other life forms. The film posits that exploration can foster connections, both with the cosmos and within human relationships.

  • Faith vs. Science

    The film navigates the complex relationship between faith and science, as Ellie grapples with her atheism against Palmer's spiritual beliefs. This theme plays out through their interactions and presents a commentary on how humanity seeks meaning in the unknown. It illustrates the struggle to reconcile personal belief systems with empirical evidence.

  • Love and Relationships

    The exploration of love and relationships is crucial to the narrative, especially through Ellie's connection with Palmer. Their dynamic showcases the tension between personal convictions and the complexities of relationships when faced with existential questions. It highlights how love can evolve amid challenges and differing worldviews.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

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Character & theme questions

Contact Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Contact (1997): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie Contact primarily set?

Contact is primarily set at several key scientific locations: the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, the Very Large Array in New Mexico, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These settings reflect the film's focus on radio astronomy and humanity's efforts to detect extraterrestrial signals.

  • arecibo observatory
  • very large array
  • kennedy space center
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What time period does Contact take place in?

Contact is set in the 1990s, a decade marked by rapid technological advancement and growing public interest in space exploration. This era was characterized by both optimism and skepticism about the possibility of discovering extraterrestrial life.

  • 1990s
  • time period
  • era
  • 1990s setting
Q3

What is the main theme of Contact?

The central theme of Contact is exploration, depicting humanity's relentless drive to understand the universe. Dr. Ellie Arroway embodies this quest, driven by scientific curiosity and the hope of making contact with extraterrestrial life. The film suggests exploration fosters connections both with the cosmos and between people.

  • exploration
  • theme
  • humanity quest
  • universe
Q4

How does Contact explore faith versus science?

Contact explores the tension between faith and science through Ellie Arroway's journey as an atheist scientist and Palmer Joss's spiritual worldview as a Christian philosopher. Their relationship highlights the struggle to reconcile personal belief systems with empirical evidence, illustrating how humanity seeks meaning in the unknown.

  • faith
  • science
  • belief
  • atheism
  • religion
  • palmer joss
Q5

Who is Dr. Ellie Arroway in Contact?

Dr. Ellie Arroway is a determined scientist devoted to the search for extraterrestrial life, played by Jodie Foster. Her passion stems from her father's influence, and she embodies logical reasoning while grappling with emotional and spiritual dilemmas throughout the film.

  • ellie arroway
  • jodie foster
  • scientist
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Palmer Joss in Contact?

Palmer Joss is a Christian philosopher and Ellie's love interest, played by Matthew McConaughey. He brings a contrasting spiritual perspective to Ellie's scientific worldview, challenging her to confront her own beliefs while reflecting the complexities of love and differing worldviews.

  • palmer joss
  • matthew mcconaughey
  • philosopher
  • love interest
Q7

How does Contact handle love and relationships?

Love and relationships in Contact are explored through Ellie's connection with Palmer. Their dynamic showcases the tension between personal convictions and the complexities of relationships when faced with existential questions. The film illustrates how love can evolve amid challenges and differing worldviews between faith and science.

  • love
  • relationships
  • romance
  • ellie and palmer
Q8

What does Contact say about humanity's place in the universe?

Contact presents a hopeful yet bittersweet message about humanity's place in the universe. While celebrating the optimistic pursuit of knowledge and first contact with alien life, the film acknowledges the isolation that can come with profound truth. Ellie's personal victory is met with public disbelief, leaving her as the sole witness to a universe-altering experience.

  • humanity
  • universe
  • first contact
  • alien life
  • meaning
Q9

What role does Japan play in Contact?

Japan appears in Contact as the site where a second machine is discovered, presenting an opportunity for global cooperation in understanding the universe. This reflects the film's theme of international scientific collaboration in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

  • japan
  • machine
  • global cooperation
  • international

Movie threads

More Movies Like Contact, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Contact tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about science and faith like Contact

Stories where the quest for cosmic truth collides with personal conviction. If you liked Contact's exploration of science vs. religion and the search for meaning in the cosmos, you'll appreciate these similar sci-fi dramas. These movies blend intellectual rigor with deep questions of belief, featuring characters on transformative journeys of discovery.

  • intellectual
  • faith-based
  • contemplative
  • awe-inspiring
  • existential
  • hopeful
  • Tone: hopeful, contemplative, awe-inspiring
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically center on a discovery or event that challenges the established understanding of reality. The protagonist, often a scientist or skeptic, embarks on a quest that pits empirical evidence against intuitive or spiritual truths, leading to a crisis of belief and a redefinition of what it means to know something.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core thematic conflict between science and faith, a contemplative and awe-inspiring tone, and a focus on intellectual and emotional discovery. They appeal to viewers who enjoy thought-provoking stories about humanity's place in the universe.

Movies about isolated truth-seekers like Contact

A solitary protagonist's transformative discovery is met with public doubt and isolation. Fans of Contact's story about Ellie Arroway's lonely quest will find similar themes in these films. Discover other movies featuring protagonists who hold a difficult truth that isolates them, focusing on the emotional weight of being the sole witness to a paradigm-shifting event.

  • lonely
  • melancholic
  • tense
  • bittersweet
  • intellectual
  • quest for truth
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet, tense
  • Pacing: steady build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a dedicated individual who uncovers a truth that is difficult, dangerous, or impossible to verify. Their struggle shifts from the initial discovery to the psychological and social battle of being disbelieved, forcing them to stand alone in their conviction, often leading to a bittersweet victory.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by the powerful emotional arc of a protagonist whose world-altering experience is met with skepticism. They share a tone of melancholy and intellectual loneliness, a steady pacing that builds to a personal crisis of faith, and a bittersweet resolution where truth is personal, not public.

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Movies Like Contact

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Every angle

Contact (1997) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Contact in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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