When I think back to that day,
small details stick in my mind.
Things I said,
the look on peoples' faces.
They wanted to wipe us from the face of the Earth,
but we kept asking ourselves "Why?"
After all the centuries of mindless cruelty,
maybe we shouldn't have been surprised.
Are we really so different?
There's evil inside of us all.
Sophia, call me. Why aren't you answering your phone.
Your friend says you don't
go to meetings anymore.
I'm worried about you.
I'm at the observatory tonight.
Please call me back.
Bye.
Hi.
Hi
Every song in the world
at your fingertips.
and I can never decide what to play.
Choice paralysis.
I have it when I go to the supermarket.
There's a hundred different options.
I just want toothpaste.
Have you seen this?
What's the source?
Ross 128.
Can you check the frequency?
153.26 GHz.
So high?
That can't be right.
It's what it says.
Can you play the signal?
It could be a satellite.
I'll check with IASE.
No registered satellite in "advant passe".
Is there a pulsar out there?
No, there is no...
pulsar at those coordinates.
And the frequency is too high.
What's that?
The signal that Arecibo picked up last year.
You know the one from Ross 128-B.
It's the same.
Yeah, but it's a lot stronger.
So what are we seeing?
What is it?
There's no naturally occurring phenomenon
that can produce a signal like this.
Not in that frequency.
Where would you put it on the Rio Scale?
I don't know.
A six, maybe seven.
Put it out on ATEL.
We need someone else to verify it.
Contact ALMA.
Ask them to take a look at it.
Johannes?
Sorry.
And?
ALMA confims the signal.
They're getting the same readings.
They're flipping out.
Queue it up again.
Are you really sure it can't be a pulsar?
I already checked.
Is this real?
What if we're wrong and we look ridiculous.
We're not wrong, Catherine.
Make the call.
Hi.
This is Catherine Durand
from the Institute of Radioastronomie Millimétrique.
I believe we have detected evidence...
of extraterrestrial life.
No way, that is not your breakfast.
I'm late.
College doesn't start til 9am.
I'm meeting some friends.
Take a banana.
Eating a banana is your answer to everything.
Looks sore.
You hate it don't you?
It's your arm.
Are you going to tell Dad?
Maybe we will wait 'til he gets home.
Go meet your friends.
Why aren't you dressed for school?
I said I'd call Dad.
Hey buddy. How're you doing?
Yeah, is Mum okay?
Yeah, no, no... I can't talk to her now
'cause I'm just checking in.
So tell her I'll call her later, okay?
Cheers, buddy. Okay.
Say hello to Em for me. Bye.
How are you doing?
Good.
Increasing the amplitude
of the stimulation current,
results in the hyper-activation
of the primary someter sensory
and pre-motor cortex.
Direct evidence that an induced current
contributes most
to cortico-spinal pathway excitation.
So, actually,
raising the stimulation amplitude,
would increase the amount of neurons firing
and result in a large response,
as we've just witnessed.
Excuse me, am I boring you?
Maybe we should fire a few neurons into your brain
just to get the juices flowing?
We can make sense of this
through our targeting of
diverse neuronal structures
by two half segments.
The signal was detectable for exactly
23 hours and 56 minutes.
One sideral day.
One complete rotation of the Earth.
Is there any significance in that?
We don't know.
You are part of the METI initiative?
You've been sending messages
into space?
We send music.
The idea is that music
would act as a universal language.
But if they don't have ears
they won't be able to hear it
so we encoded the entire message
in a binary system
of two alternating frequencies
pulsing 125 times per second.
Could this be a response?
If it is...
it's in a language we don't understand.
The electromagnetic waves were
transmitted across a vast distance
with virtually no attentuation.
What does that mean?
It means that the power source
that generated the signal
is greater than we can even conceive.
Does this mean that they're a threat?
There's no evidence to suggest that.
Surely, it would be equally wrong to assume
they aren't a threat?
Dr Durand,
what do we know?
Two years ago we discovered
an exoplanet orbiting Ross 128.
The planet is in an inhabitable zone
and it may be able to support life.
But that's all we know.
Why are we detecting this signal now?
We can't say for sure.
Perhaps they were...
looking for us.
Thank you.
Perhaps you can leave us for a minute?
Wednesday, at approximately
2300 Hours Universal Time,
Dr Catherine Durand
of the Institute de Radioastronomie Millimétrique
detected a powerful signal
originating from an area
close to the star, Ross 128.
All the evidence suggests
the signal is indicative of
intelligent extraterrestrial life.
I hope this discovery is something
that will unite the human race.
Perhaps, we will see now that
we are far more alike than we are different.
What is it?
Tonight, 10pm.
Do you ever go skiing?
Do I ever go skiing?
Yes.
l mean, because you work in the mountains.
I used to, but it was ages ago.
Is everything alright?
Just turbulence.
It's normal.
My men have secured things.
Don't worry, they won't get in the way.
Okay, thank you.
Catherine.
Hey.
How did it go in Brussels?
It was okay.
Can you believe this?
Hey, Dad.
Oh, Hi.
You heading off again?
I'm going to be sleeping at the office
while this thing plays out.
So what aren't they telling us?
Should we be concerned?
Well, there's nothing to tell.
They've detected a signal.
When the government tells you not to panic
that's when you've got to buy a rifle
and head for the hills.
You'd shoot yourself in the foot.
You'd be lying there hoping
the evil government comes and rescues you.
You want me to open that?
Oh, I can open a bottle of wine.
Have you spoken to your Mum?
Oh, she's fine.
Are you in tomorrow night?
Jack said he'd drop by
for the rest of my stuff.
What am I supposed to say to him?
Try nice polite conversation.
I'm sure you'll figure it out.
You don't want me to stick one at him
because he dumped you do you?
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
I'll call you.
Okay.
You should come out for the product launch.
I guess he's crazy.
Yeah, it's difficult, you know
for me to be here away from home
for too long.
Oh, I thought you said your daughter
is coping much better now.
Yeah, she is, she is but...
Then come to Vegas.
It will be fun.
Shall I get another bottle?
No, you know what?
It's late...
but you could invite me back to your room.
Or perhaps it's a bad idea.
Please, please! Don't take me!
I just want to get over the Channel!
Something is happening.
What is it?
Multiple objects are approaching the earth.
What kind of objects?
No idea.
They are approaching at more
than 1000 km per second.
That's impossible.
What?
I can't.
I'm sorry.
They are slowing down.
That's because they've entered the atmosphere.
Could it be...
an attack?
Mum?
What's going on?
I don't know.
What is that?
Shit!
What's that?
Is that a meteorite?
Impact in 80 seconds.
Shouldn't we do something?
Do what?
What the fuck is that?
Emily!
Emily, what are you doing?
Can't you feel it?
Get inside.
Ten seconds left.
Six, five, four, three, two …
Multiple impacts...
but only near areas near key infrastructures.
I want updates every 10 minutes.
Yes, Colonel.
Sooner if something happens
or there are more impacts.
Of course, Sir.
Last night's attacks
sent fearful tremors across the globe.
Volunteers are working around the clock
to rescue citizens...
Reports suggest upward of 2500 objects...
The government has responded
by declaring a state of emergency.
Schools have been closed and...
all civilian aircraft
are grounded until further notice.
We're getting reports of rioting...
in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
There's severe congestion
on all routes out of major cities.
It's only going to get worse.
We need to get the message out:
People should stay in their own homes.
It's the safest place for them to be.
I'll get on it.
Your family are here?
It's just a precaution
until things calm down.
Keep me updated.
Hello, sister. I hope you're safe.
I know you don't want to talk…
Just send a message that you're okay.
Please.
Are you receiving us?
Alpha Team, come in.
Radioactivity levels are normal.
Testing negative for chemical and biological agents.
Detecting a strong electromagnetic field.
Flux density...
Alpha Team, we've lost visual.
It's interfering with our comms.
It is some kind of metallic object.
Alpha Team? Can you identify?
Alpha Team, come in.
It's partially embedded in the ground.
It's a spherical, non-porous, metallic object.
...are you reading this?
Alpha Team, come in.
I repeat:
radioactivity levels normal,
negative chemical, biological agents,
strong electromagnetic field.
Object...
metallic, spherical, non-porous.
Partially embedded.
Pick up, damn it.
Sophia?
Why do you keep calling?
I know we're not talking at the moment,
but please come to the observatory.
Why?
It's safer.
Are those things dangerous then?
I don't know.
Please come here.
Please, trust me.
What's going on?
Do you have enough fuel in your car?
Yes. Now, tell me whats going on.
Just leave everything behind
and come here.
Why? You're scaring me!
Sophia...
Sophia,
I'm begging you.
Okay.
People are getting out of London so maybe
I should go to my Dad's
until we know what's happening.
Yeah, you should.
You should go.
The, umm...the Channel Tunnel's still open
so I'm going to see if I can get a train and
I'm going meet you at Dad's
as soon as I can, okay?
Sarah?
Be careful.
Bill?
Hi, Helen.
I just wanted to check
and see that you were okay.
These things last night...
God, it's insane!
Helen?
Bill, one of the neighbours saw you
hanging around the apartment last night.
Jeez, I was just passing by.
Was it that crazy old bitch with that shitty dog?
She never liked me.
You know it's her dog
that craps in the hallway.
It is not appropriate for you
to just show up here.
What is it you want?
What do you think's going to happen with us?
I don't know.
I'm sorry.
Him again?
I'm going to talk to him.
He's just worried.
It's not his job to worry about you.
The most significant discovery so far
has been that of astrophysicists in Brazil...
who were the first to observe
concentrated electromagnetic activity
at their local probe site.
Several sources have now confirmed...
There are already four unknown substances
that have been found.
What's causing the electromagnetic field?
All we know is that the frequency is getting stronger.
You know, we send exploratory probes to other planets.
Isn't it possible they're just here to do research?
Why would they send so many?
And why only to inhabited areas?
Since the first signal...
It took exactly one day.
Meaning?
They must have made a complete scan of our planet.
They've mapped the earth?
Do we have to destroy them?
They could be weapons.
Look at the pictures from Wyoming.
Look...an F-16 bombed one of them.
It survived without a scratch.
Catherine...
My, ahh, parents absolutely
want me to be with them.
I'll stay if you want me to, of course, but...
You should go.
Okay.
Bye.
Expert analysis indicates the probes are...
using an electromagnetic field,
though little is understood of its purpose.
Scientists around the world are
having a fervent debate as to the implications
but no conclusive answers
have been found thus far.
There is still widespread speculation
as to the cause of
the dropouts in power shortages
mobile communications...
Hey Tony, it's Bill.
Listen, ah, Tony, I need the results of your
subretinal stimulation study.
They should be on the shared hard drive.
The shard hard drive?
Okay, thanks.
I'll talk to you later.
Dad?
Dan, you've got to talk to the minister...
Dad? Dad...Slow down.
No, you've got to listen to me, Dan.
The electromagnet fields these probes are emitting
I think it's designed to interfere
with our neural functioning.
They're identical to the pulses we use
to stimulate neurons in the brain.
It's the exact same frequency and amplitude.
Everything.
It's almost like they understand our neurology.
How is that even possible?
I don't know.
But as the pulse gets stronger it's going to cause
more and more neurons to fire.
It'll cause seizures
and our bodies will shut down completely.
Are you sure?
As sure as I can be.
People need to get somewhere
completely encased in metal
or deep underground.
Dan, you have to get the government
to issue a warning.
I'll speak to the minister.
Shit!
He says that we'll start to fit and
our bodies will completely shut down.
Yes, our scientists are saying the same thing.
They've been running tests at Porton-Down.
What? You knew?
Don't we need to issue an alert?
We can't issue a warning until we're sure.
We can't risk mass panic.
What if we're too late?
Dan, the decision's been made, okay?
We wait.
To the station.
No, No, Sir, I'm not on duty.
Please, come on I really...
Get out of my taxi.
Take this, please.
Just go.
Thank you.
They're turning people around.
Then what do we do?
Maybe we should just go home.
I thought you said it wasn't safe there.
I'm not sure we've got much choice.
Well, things might calm down later
and we can try again.
Text Dad. Let him know we're going home.
What is that?
Can you feel something?
What?
There's this sound...
I heard it last night.
Can't you hear it?
It's so weird.
Excuse me.
Excuse me, is there...
another route we could take, or...?
Shit!
Look this is all I've got. Just get me there.
What the fuck is that?
what is it?
What is that?
The electromagnetic fields are
affecting the atmosphere.
Colonel?
The British government just issued a warning
about an imminent attack.
They're saying there's going to be an attack.
Who?
It's the government's Twitter feed.
We have to find shelter...
to get underground.
What should we do?
I don't know.
Mum?
I don't know! Mum?
I don't know!
Why are they shooting at people?
I'm sure they're just firing into the air.
They're warning shots.
Your voice changes when you lie.
Hello.
Where are you?
Quickly!
I'm stuck in a traffic jam.
Listen! We're being attacked!
Find cover!
What do you mean attacked?
Just look for somewhere underground!
Hurry!
There's nowhere to go!
Chris?
Bill?
What are you doing here?
I've got to find Helen.
No. She doesn't want to see you.
You don't understand.
- There's an attack. - No, no.
You've got to calm down.
It's happening!
- Don't do that! - We don't have time!
Mum?
Mum, what should we do?
Mum?
Do something!
Mum!
Slow down!
Shit!
What was that?
Why are we going so quickly?
Get out! Get out!
Get into the station!
Helen, open up!
What are you doing here?
You've got to come with me, right now!
Come with me right now or you're going to die!
To where?
To the elevator.
It'll protect us against the electromagnetic field!
Have you seen Chris?
No, I haven't.
Get in the elevator, now!
We have to find Chris first.
We don't have time!
What are you doing? Bill!
No, stop! Chris!
- You've got to come with me. - Chris!
Chris! Chris!
Chris!
I'm really sorry I'm complicating things.
Make sure you get underground.
I don't know where to go.
There's nowhere to go!
I've said too much already. Get underground, now!
But where?!
Hurry up and find somewhere!
I don't know where to go!
Colonel.
We've lost the contact with our planes.
They've crashed.
Something is happening.
Hello…?
Sophia?
Colonel.
What's happening?
Communications are down!
Get it back online!
How long 'til we get there?
We have to find a way to get back on the...
No, no, no... Watch out!
Keep all of the doors closed.
Is it over?
It's too soon to know.
Guys, save your batteries.
Turn your flashlights off.
Adaptation: Clotilde Maville
Sous-titrage TITRAFILM