After We Fell
Just as Tessa's life begins to become unglued, nothing is what she thought it would be. Not her friends nor her family. The only person that she should be able to rely on is Hardin, who is furious when he discovers the massive secret that she's been keeping. Before Tessa makes the biggest decision of her life, everything changes because of revelations about her family.
Working with a tight budget of $14.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $21.8M in global revenue (+55% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
After We Fell (2021) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Castille Landon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 39 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tessa Young
Hardin Scott
Vance
Kimberly
Landon Gibson
Christian Vance
Trish Daniels
Main Cast & Characters
Tessa Young
Played by Josephine Langford
A dedicated student struggling with a toxic relationship while pursuing her career dreams and discovering family secrets.
Hardin Scott
Played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin
A troubled British writer with anger issues and deep-seated abandonment trauma from his father's betrayal.
Vance
Played by Carter Jenkins
Tessa's charismatic boss at the publishing house who shows romantic interest in her.
Kimberly
Played by Arielle Kebbel
Vance's girlfriend and Tessa's supportive friend who offers wisdom about relationships.
Landon Gibson
Played by Chance Perdomo
Hardin's caring stepbrother who remains loyal to both Hardin and Tessa despite their drama.
Christian Vance
Played by Charlie Weber
Revealed to be Hardin's biological father who abandoned his family years ago.
Trish Daniels
Played by Louise Lombard
Hardin's mother who kept the secret about his true paternity to protect him.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Tessa and Hardin are together in Seattle, seemingly happy as she prepares to start her dream job at Vance Publishing.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Tessa's father Richard reveals shocking family secrets about her mother and invites her to London, creating tension with Hardin.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Tessa decides to go to London to learn about her father and explore the job opportunity, despite Hardin's objections., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Hardin shows up in London drunk and confronts Tessa, revealing he read her journal and accusing her of betrayal, destroying their fragile trust., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Devastating revelations about Hardin's childhood abuse and family trauma come to light. Tessa witnesses Hardin at his lowest, and their relationship appears completely broken., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Tessa realizes she can't save Hardin but chooses to stand by him anyway, accepting both their flaws and committing to work through the pain together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
After We Fell's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping After We Fell against these established plot points, we can identify how Castille Landon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish After We Fell within the romance genre.
Castille Landon's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Castille Landon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. After We Fell takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Castille Landon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Castille Landon analyses, see After Ever Happy, After Everything.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tessa and Hardin are together in Seattle, seemingly happy as she prepares to start her dream job at Vance Publishing.
Theme
Kimberly tells Tessa that "some secrets have a way of destroying everything" when discussing relationships and trust.
Worldbuilding
Tessa starts her new job, meets her father for the first time, and navigates her relationship with Hardin while he struggles with jealousy over her new life.
Disruption
Tessa's father Richard reveals shocking family secrets about her mother and invites her to London, creating tension with Hardin.
Resistance
Tessa debates whether to pursue the truth about her father and accept the London opportunity while Hardin becomes increasingly unstable and controlling.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tessa decides to go to London to learn about her father and explore the job opportunity, despite Hardin's objections.
Mirror World
Tessa connects with her father Richard in London, who represents the stable, honest relationship she's never had.
Premise
Tessa explores London, builds a relationship with her father, and experiences independence from Hardin while he spirals in Seattle.
Midpoint
Hardin shows up in London drunk and confronts Tessa, revealing he read her journal and accusing her of betrayal, destroying their fragile trust.
Opposition
Tessa and Hardin's relationship deteriorates as more secrets emerge about Hardin's past trauma and his mother's history. Tessa must choose between her future and Hardin.
Collapse
Devastating revelations about Hardin's childhood abuse and family trauma come to light. Tessa witnesses Hardin at his lowest, and their relationship appears completely broken.
Crisis
Tessa processes the trauma and pain, questioning whether love is enough to overcome their toxic patterns and if she should choose herself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tessa realizes she can't save Hardin but chooses to stand by him anyway, accepting both their flaws and committing to work through the pain together.
Synthesis
Tessa and Hardin reconcile and face their families together. They make plans for their future despite the obstacles, choosing each other.
Transformation
Tessa receives news that Hardin has been in a serious accident, ending on a cliffhanger that mirrors the opening's fragile happiness but with deeper commitment and higher stakes.