Contact (1997)

Carl Sagan (Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer, science communicator, and co-creator of the popular show Cosmos) wrote Contact Contact in 1985. Robert Zemeckis (director of Back to the Future and Forrest Gump) brought it to the screen in 1997. And threw in Jodie Foster. What more could you want?

The story follows radio astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway as humanity receives its first apparent message from extraterrestrial intelligence. It uses that premise to explore scientific curiosity, faith, politics, loneliness, and the enormous question of what it would mean not to be alone in the universe.

We’ll read the book separately and watch the movie together—and then discuss each medium and the adaptation process. DM the host, Vaidehi, if you want a free digital copy of the book.

Agenda

6:00–6:30 – Arrival, book-only discussion. Set up seats and food.
6:30–7:20 – Watch first third of film
7:20–7:35 – 15-minute intermission + “thoughts so far” discussion
7:35–8:25 – Watch second third of film
8:25–8:40 – 15-minute intermission + “thoughts so far” discussion
8:40–9:30 – Watch final third of film
9:30: Final group discussion comparing the novel and film

you can leave whenever you want! try not to get here later than 6:30 because one of us will have to come let you in and will have to pause the movie.