Faith in what?

Rating: 9/10 (17 November 2018)

To begin with we must acknowledge that both the writer (Carl Sagan) and the star (Jody Foster) are well known atheists. Secondly, I believe their agenda is to attempt to explore the idea of faith. Thirdly this plot and the questions it asks uses cliche image and plot points used in many other places.
Palmer Joss and Dr Arraway's discussion in Washington DC is one critical plot point worth mentioning. When Arraway and Joss discuss the existence of God.
Arraway suggests that God cannot be proven and Joss comes back and demands she prove she loves her father, but never gets the chance to do it due to being taken away with some new issue. Leaving any argument she might offer unsaid.
And in the end when confronting the senate investigating committee, Arraway is essentially forced to admit she only has her own private experience and nothing else as proof of her 18 hour long experience.
The word "faith" never appears in the dialogue, but it is in fact a central theme of this movie. Joss's Christian faith and Arraway's faith in science which is severely shaken by the final scene. The audience left to decide for themselves just what we should place our faith in.
I highly recommend this film even for reviewing again and again it holds up under multiple viewings.