First Love
Elgin Smith is a student attending Ridgedale College who spends his time working part time as a waiter on campus to pay for what his partial scholarship won't, studying, attending classes, or kicking around a soccer ball to get some exercise (as he isn't very good at the actual game to get much real playing time in his pickup league). He doesn't have much of an active sex life as he isn't in a relationship and he wants to equate making love with actual love, not only from his own perspective but also that of the other person in the relationship. In that respect, he is unlike his dorm neighbor, David Bonner, who has sex with his girlfriend Felicia, while he fools around behind her back with another girl named Shelley. Elgin's life may change when he becomes infatuated at first sight with a student on campus, whom he will learn is named Caroline Hedges. As Elgin is able to spend time with her, he, without truly knowing that much about her, does fall in love with her, as he believes she is progressing toward falling in love with him. But what Elgin hopes will be a happily ever after with Caroline may change when he learns that there is another man in the picture, someone who has been in her life for most of her life, is old enough to be her father, but is married so that there is no guarantee if there is a future for them regardless of what she may want. Elgin may get a different perspective of his relationship with Caroline and young love in general in discussions with Shelley, who hangs out with him on the occasions when she has to wait for David to finish his time with Felicia.
Despite its modest budget of $3.0M, First Love became a commercial success, earning $9.4M worldwide—a 213% return. The film's fresh perspective attracted moviegoers, showing 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%)
First Love (1977) reveals precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Joan Darling's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elgin is a shy, inexperienced college student focused on soccer, living a simple campus life with his friends, not yet involved in romantic relationships.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Elgin meets Caroline, a sophisticated upperclassman, at a party and is immediately drawn to her confidence and beauty, disrupting his comfortable routine.. At 11% 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Elgin and Caroline decide to become a couple, making their relationship official and beginning an intense romantic involvement that changes both their lives., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Caroline reveals she's pregnant, turning their carefree romance into a serious crisis that forces both to confront adult responsibilities and difficult choices., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, After Caroline has an abortion, the relationship fractures under the weight of grief, guilt, and the realization that their innocence and the purity of their love has been irrevocably lost., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Elgin realizes that true love means accepting the painful parts along with the beautiful, and chooses to reconnect with Caroline rather than run from their shared grief., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
First Love'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 First Love against these established plot points, we can identify how Joan Darling utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish First Love within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elgin is a shy, inexperienced college student focused on soccer, living a simple campus life with his friends, not yet involved in romantic relationships.
Theme
A friend casually mentions that real intimacy requires vulnerability and the courage to be yourself with someone else, foreshadowing Elgin's emotional journey.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of college life, Elgin's soccer team dynamics, his friendships, his family background, and his general awkwardness around women.
Disruption
Elgin meets Caroline, a sophisticated upperclassman, at a party and is immediately drawn to her confidence and beauty, disrupting his comfortable routine.
Resistance
Elgin nervously pursues Caroline while dealing with his insecurities, seeking advice from friends, hesitating about whether he's ready for a serious relationship.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elgin and Caroline decide to become a couple, making their relationship official and beginning an intense romantic involvement that changes both their lives.
Mirror World
Caroline opens up about her own vulnerabilities and past, creating genuine emotional intimacy that teaches Elgin what true connection means beyond physical attraction.
Premise
The couple experiences the joy and passion of first love—romantic dates, sexual discovery, emotional bonding, and the intoxicating feeling of being completely absorbed in each other.
Midpoint
Caroline reveals she's pregnant, turning their carefree romance into a serious crisis that forces both to confront adult responsibilities and difficult choices.
Opposition
The couple struggles with the pregnancy decision, facing pressure from family, friends, and their own conflicting desires about marriage, abortion, and their future together.
Collapse
After Caroline has an abortion, the relationship fractures under the weight of grief, guilt, and the realization that their innocence and the purity of their love has been irrevocably lost.
Crisis
Elgin and Caroline separately process their pain and loss, withdrawing from each other, questioning whether they can continue together after such trauma.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Elgin realizes that true love means accepting the painful parts along with the beautiful, and chooses to reconnect with Caroline rather than run from their shared grief.
Synthesis
Elgin and Caroline tentatively rebuild their relationship with new maturity, learning to communicate honestly about their pain and supporting each other through the aftermath.
Transformation
Elgin, now visibly changed and matured by the experience, holds Caroline with a deeper, sadder wisdom—no longer the naive boy from the opening, but someone who understands love's complexity.