SPOILERS Reason why the husband left her
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Arrival
Sorcerer-NL — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 05:21 AM)
Assuming Ian would be able to learn the language (perhaps be a little less fluid at it):
Maybe he left Louise because he knew that seeing Hannah die would make him not want to have her in the past?
Despite what he reportedly said to her about not making the right choice, this might be the reason he had to leave her.
For some reason I feel Hannah was instrumental to Louises understanding of the language. And THAT was the reason she felt like she had to make the choice to have her.
Anyone have anything philosophical to add?
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bubbmail — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 05:44 AM)
I dont think you needed to analyse it, she already told her daughter why her father left. She said he left because of her (not the daughter, Louise).
Imagine that your wife knew the future before you even got together. She knew you'd get married, that you'd have a child and several years later that child would die. That's lifelong heartbreak. Surely you'd tell your spouse beforehand. Yet she went ahead with it anyway and reveals to you after that shes seen the future and its a bleak one.
That's why the little girl said daddy doesn't look at her the same way anymore. After he found out, it was too much for him, he felt decieved, hurt, and couldn't bare to look at his little angel knowing she'd be gone a few years later. So they separated. But Louise mentioned that he still visits her.
I can't say I would react any differently from Ian. Very tough on him. And I agree with you on the reason why she decided to have the child anyway. She was vital to her understanding the language so quickly. It probably took the human race decades/centuries to learn. -
ghtx — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 09:57 AM)
I agree with that explanation for why her husband left her.
But, I don't agree that the reason Louise had her child was because it helped her understand the heptapod language. I think she had her child because she loved her child and the time spent with her child, which was sort of the point of the movie. Making her daughter "instrumental" takes away from that. -
skyppie11 — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 12:31 PM)
Yes, I also didn't take that her daughter was instrumental to the understanding of the language. I took her decision to have Hannah as Louise being human and wanting to feel the joy of being a mother and having a family despite knowing the bleak outcome. It presses on the point that we are all ultimately human and yes we all make mistakes.
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iangb_2000 — 9 years ago(November 14, 2016 02:20 PM)
I agree, as that's what I thought exactly. Far more to do with his sense of exclusion/betrayal than with Hannah's fate per se.
The only mystery is, of course, why, knowing that they would separate, she told him regardless. But that is over-analysing things and trying to retro-analyse a good plot when any story involving time travel or time shifts will of course collapse under its own logic if probed sufficiently, since logic suggests time travel as such isn't possible (else where are the time travellers coming back from the future?) -
bubbmail — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 10:09 AM)
There we go again, that one sad person who feels the need to insult someone for asking a question/creating a thread. Go away, if you don't have anything to contribute to the specific question/post, why comment?
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larosat — 9 years ago(November 13, 2016 11:27 AM)
Are you talking to me?? Where in my post is there an insult. Or any other posts for that matter. I merely stated that anybody paying attention got it. Why are you so sensitive. This is not a deep movie and everything was fairly explained.
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STORIED — 10 months ago(May 31, 2025 12:34 PM)
It appears we have strayed from the "why", and, now addressing the "should". "Why", unbearable pain, he needed space to deal with the pain, I like to think he does and returns to his wife, for it is true that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, but now I too have strayed from the "why". Thanks everyone for sharing