Swept Away
A spoiled rich woman and a brutish Communist deckhand become stranded alone on a desert island after venturing away from their cruise.
The film earned $6.0M at the global box office.
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%)
Swept Away (1974) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Lina Wertmüller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Raffaella, a wealthy and arrogant capitalist woman, lounges on a yacht with her bourgeois friends, loudly berating the communist crew member Gennarino who serves them. The power dynamic is clear: she has all the control, he has none.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Raffaella demands to be taken to shore on a small dinghy. Gennarino is assigned to take her, and during the trip, the boat's engine fails. They drift helplessly at sea, unable to return to the yacht.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to On the island, Gennarino realizes he has survival skills that Raffaella lacks. He makes an active choice to reverse their power dynamic, refusing to help her unless she submits to his authority. The new world is one where her money means nothing., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A boat appears on the horizon. Their island paradise is over—rescue means a return to civilization. This is the death of their alternative world, the death of the fantasy that their relationship could exist outside social structures. Gennarino knows what's coming., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. They arrive back in civilization. Raffaella's husband and wealthy friends are waiting. The moment she steps back into her social class, the transformation is visible. Gennarino proposes they run away together to test if their love is real, and Raffaella must choose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Swept Away's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Swept Away against these established plot points, we can identify how Lina Wertmüller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Swept Away within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Raffaella, a wealthy and arrogant capitalist woman, lounges on a yacht with her bourgeois friends, loudly berating the communist crew member Gennarino who serves them. The power dynamic is clear: she has all the control, he has none.
Theme
One of the crew members comments on the relationship between class, power, and human nature, suggesting that people are defined by their social positions and that stripping away society's structures reveals who we truly are underneath.
Worldbuilding
The yacht cruise establishes the class warfare and political tensions between the wealthy capitalist tourists and the working-class communist crew. Raffaella continuously humiliates Gennarino, ordering him around and mocking his beliefs. The social hierarchy is rigid and oppressive.
Disruption
Raffaella demands to be taken to shore on a small dinghy. Gennarino is assigned to take her, and during the trip, the boat's engine fails. They drift helplessly at sea, unable to return to the yacht.
Resistance
Stranded together, Raffaella and Gennarino argue bitterly as they drift. Raffaella still attempts to maintain her superior attitude, but the reality of their dangerous situation begins to sink in. They eventually wash up on a deserted Mediterranean island.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
On the island, Gennarino realizes he has survival skills that Raffaella lacks. He makes an active choice to reverse their power dynamic, refusing to help her unless she submits to his authority. The new world is one where her money means nothing.
Mirror World
As Gennarino forces Raffaella to work for her food and shelter, a twisted relationship begins to form. She starts to see him not as a servant but as a man, and he begins to see her vulnerability. This relationship will explore the theme of power, submission, and authentic human connection.
Premise
The "fun and games" of role reversal: Gennarino dominates Raffaella completely, making her clean fish, gather wood, and obey his commands. She resists, then gradually submits. They engage in a passionate, primal relationship where the power dynamics of civilization are inverted. This is the premise the audience came for—watching the tables turn.
Opposition
The reality of their situation weighs on them. They discuss what would happen if they returned to civilization. Gennarino insists she would leave him and return to her husband and wealth. Raffaella promises she won't, that their love transcends class. But doubt creeps in for both of them. The fantasy begins to crack.
Collapse
A boat appears on the horizon. Their island paradise is over—rescue means a return to civilization. This is the death of their alternative world, the death of the fantasy that their relationship could exist outside social structures. Gennarino knows what's coming.
Crisis
As they prepare to be rescued, both grapple with the impending return to reality. Raffaella promises again that nothing will change, that she loves him. Gennarino is silent, resigned. They board the rescue vessel and return to the mainland.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
They arrive back in civilization. Raffaella's husband and wealthy friends are waiting. The moment she steps back into her social class, the transformation is visible. Gennarino proposes they run away together to test if their love is real, and Raffaella must choose.
Synthesis
Raffaella meets Gennarino at the appointed place but arrives with her husband. She cannot break free from her social position. Gennarino waits, realizes she won't leave her privileged life, and faces the brutal truth: the island was an illusion. Social structures are inescapable.
Transformation
Gennarino walks away alone, back to his working-class life. Raffaella returns to her wealthy existence with her husband. The final image mirrors the opening: they are back in their respective social positions, but now with the bitter knowledge that genuine connection was possible—but only outside society. Transformation is revealed as impossible within their world.