Attraction
After an alien ship crash lands in a Russian city, many who see the inside and the occupants start to question their own existence while others demand the aliens leave Earth.
Despite its modest budget of $5.0M, Attraction became a box office success, earning $19.5M worldwide—a 287% return. The film's innovative storytelling connected with viewers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Attraction (2017) reveals strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Fyodor Bondarchuk's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Yulia Lebedeva
Hekon
Artyom
Colonel Lebedev
Svetlana
Khariton
Main Cast & Characters
Yulia Lebedeva
Played by Irina Starshenbaum
A compassionate high school student who falls in love with an alien visitor, challenging xenophobia and violence in her community.
Hekon
Played by Alexander Petrov
An alien military officer stranded on Earth who assumes human form and develops feelings for Yulia while trying to repair his ship.
Artyom
Played by Rinal Mukhametov
Yulia's aggressive and xenophobic boyfriend who leads a violent campaign against the alien visitors.
Colonel Lebedev
Played by Oleg Menshikov
Yulia's father, a military colonel tasked with managing the alien crisis while protecting his daughter.
Svetlana
Played by Yuliya Nikolaenko
Yulia's loyal best friend who supports her through the alien encounter and relationship turmoil.
Khariton
Played by Evgeniy Mikheev
A fellow alien soldier from Hekon's crew who remains focused on the mission to repair the ship.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Yulia lives a normal teenage life in Moscow with her military colonel father, going to parties with her boyfriend Artyom and friends, carefree and privileged.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when An alien spacecraft crashes into Yulia's neighborhood, destroying buildings and killing her best friend Sveta. The military quarantines the area with the alien ship trapped inside.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Yulia chooses to enter the restricted alien crash site alone to confront the beings she blames for her friend's death, crossing the military barrier into the unknown., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Artyom discovers Yulia's relationship with Hekon, feeling betrayed. He rallies the angry mob to attack the alien ship. Yulia must choose between her old life and protecting Hekon, raising the stakes dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Artyom leads a violent attack that critically wounds Hekon. Yulia is shot protecting him. As she dies in Hekon's arms, all hope seems lost—the whiff of death is literal as Yulia's life fades., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Yulia realizes Hekon saved her life at great cost, understanding the depth of compassion that transcends species. She gains clarity about fighting fear with love and must convince others before it's too late., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Attraction's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Attraction against these established plot points, we can identify how Fyodor Bondarchuk utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Attraction within the drama genre.
Fyodor Bondarchuk's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Fyodor Bondarchuk films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Attraction takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Fyodor Bondarchuk filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Fyodor Bondarchuk analyses, see Stalingrad, Invasion.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Yulia lives a normal teenage life in Moscow with her military colonel father, going to parties with her boyfriend Artyom and friends, carefree and privileged.
Theme
Yulia's friend or family member mentions that "we fear what we don't understand," foreshadowing the xenophobia theme that will drive the conflict.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Yulia's world: her relationship with protective father Colonel Lebedev, boyfriend Artyom, their friend group, and the peaceful Moscow suburb of Chertanovo where they live.
Disruption
An alien spacecraft crashes into Yulia's neighborhood, destroying buildings and killing her best friend Sveta. The military quarantines the area with the alien ship trapped inside.
Resistance
Yulia grieves her friend while tensions rise in the quarantine zone. Her father works with the military to contain the situation. Artyom and locals grow hostile toward the aliens, debating whether to attack or wait.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yulia chooses to enter the restricted alien crash site alone to confront the beings she blames for her friend's death, crossing the military barrier into the unknown.
Mirror World
Yulia encounters Hekon, the injured alien pilot. Despite her hatred, she's drawn to him as he reveals his humanity-like qualities and vulnerability, beginning a relationship that will teach her about prejudice and compassion.
Premise
Yulia secretly helps Hekon recover while learning about his culture and technology. Their bond grows despite the danger, exploring the premise of love transcending fear and xenophobia. Her worldview begins to shift.
Midpoint
Artyom discovers Yulia's relationship with Hekon, feeling betrayed. He rallies the angry mob to attack the alien ship. Yulia must choose between her old life and protecting Hekon, raising the stakes dramatically.
Opposition
Violence escalates as the mob attacks. Yulia's father learns of her relationship and forbids it. Artyom becomes increasingly dangerous. The military prepares to destroy the ship. Yulia is caught between all sides, her flaws of privilege and naivety exposed.
Collapse
Artyom leads a violent attack that critically wounds Hekon. Yulia is shot protecting him. As she dies in Hekon's arms, all hope seems lost—the whiff of death is literal as Yulia's life fades.
Crisis
Hekon uses alien technology to revive Yulia, sacrificing his chance to return home. Yulia awakens transformed. The military and mob close in for final destruction. Darkness before the dawn.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Yulia realizes Hekon saved her life at great cost, understanding the depth of compassion that transcends species. She gains clarity about fighting fear with love and must convince others before it's too late.
Synthesis
Yulia confronts her father and the mob, using both her emotional growth and Hekon's technology to prevent disaster. She synthesizes her old world knowledge with new understanding to broker peace and save Hekon's departure.
Transformation
Yulia watches Hekon's ship depart, transformed from a privileged, prejudiced girl into someone who understands love, sacrifice, and the cost of fear. She stands with her father, reconciled, looking to the stars with new wisdom.