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 solid performer, earning $19.5M worldwide—a 287% return. The film's compelling narrative found its audience, 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) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Fyodor Bondarchuk's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-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 enjoys normal teenage life in Moscow with her boyfriend Artyom and friends, celebrating at a rooftop party. Her father, Colonel Lebedev, represents military authority in their structured world.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when An alien spacecraft crashes into a residential district of Moscow, causing massive destruction. Yulia's best friend is killed in the chaos, shattering her world and igniting her hatred toward the aliens.. 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 shows the protagonist's commitment to Yulia actively chooses to enter the restricted zone seeking revenge. She crosses into the quarantined alien crash site, leaving her ordinary world behind to confront the being she holds responsible., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The mob attacks Hekon brutally while Yulia watches helplessly. Artyom, consumed by jealousy and xenophobia, nearly kills Hekon. The fragile bridge between species seems destroyed, and Yulia's hope dies., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Yulia confronts the mob, her father, and Artyom, arguing for compassion over fear. She uses what Hekon taught her about connection and sacrifice to broker peace and prevent the alien technology from retaliating., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Attraction's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. 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 5 Fyodor Bondarchuk films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, 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 Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Fyodor Bondarchuk analyses, see The Inhabited Island 2: Rebellion, The Inhabited Island and Invasion.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Yulia enjoys normal teenage life in Moscow with her boyfriend Artyom and friends, celebrating at a rooftop party. Her father, Colonel Lebedev, represents military authority in their structured world.
Theme
A character discusses how fear of the unknown drives hatred and violence, questioning whether humanity can move beyond xenophobia—the central thematic question of the film.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Moscow, Yulia's relationships with Artyom and her military father, the social dynamics of her friend group, and the ordinary world before the alien arrival disrupts everything.
Disruption
An alien spacecraft crashes into a residential district of Moscow, causing massive destruction. Yulia's best friend is killed in the chaos, shattering her world and igniting her hatred toward the aliens.
Resistance
Military quarantines the crash zone. Yulia struggles with grief and anger while her father manages the crisis. The city debates whether the aliens are invaders or victims. Yulia resists moving forward, consumed by vengeance.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yulia actively chooses to enter the restricted zone seeking revenge. She crosses into the quarantined alien crash site, leaving her ordinary world behind to confront the being she holds responsible.
Premise
Yulia and Hekon develop a tentative connection despite the language and species barrier. She learns about his world, his technology, and his peaceful intentions, while hiding their relationship from her father and Artyom.
Opposition
Artyom discovers Yulia's relationship with Hekon and rallies a violent mob. Public fear escalates into aggression. The military prepares extreme measures. Yulia's father faces impossible choices between duty and humanity.
Collapse
The mob attacks Hekon brutally while Yulia watches helplessly. Artyom, consumed by jealousy and xenophobia, nearly kills Hekon. The fragile bridge between species seems destroyed, and Yulia's hope dies.
Crisis
Yulia confronts her own complicity in hatred and fear. She processes the violence she's witnessed and the choice before her: retreat to familiar prejudice or fight for a different future despite the cost.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Yulia confronts the mob, her father, and Artyom, arguing for compassion over fear. She uses what Hekon taught her about connection and sacrifice to broker peace and prevent the alien technology from retaliating.