A Good Woman
In 1930, Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt), who describes herself as poor and infamous, driven from New York City society by jealous wives, sees a news photo of wealthy Lord Windermere (Mark Umbers) and his young wife (Scarlett Johansson). She heads for the Amalfi Coast to be amongst the rich and famous for "the season" and to snare Mr. Windermere. Gossips twitter as he spends his afternoons with her, his wife blissfully innocent as she blushingly fends off attentions from a young English nobleman, an international playboy who thinks he's in love. Mrs. Erlynne is also pursued by a worldly-wise older English nobleman. Mrs. Windermere's twentieth birthday party approaches, where all plays out amidst numerous amoral Wildean aphorisms.
The film earned $6.9M 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%)
A Good Woman (2004) exhibits meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Mike Barker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Mrs. Erlynne
Meg Windermere
Robert Windermere
Lord Darlington
Tuppy
Main Cast & Characters
Mrs. Erlynne
Played by Helen Hunt
A sophisticated American woman with a scandalous past who arrives in 1930s Amalfi Coast seeking redemption and reconnection.
Meg Windermere
Played by Scarlett Johansson
A young, naive newlywed who befriends Mrs. Erlynne, unaware of their true connection.
Robert Windermere
Played by Mark Umbers
Meg's wealthy husband who becomes entangled in Mrs. Erlynne's schemes and torn by duty.
Lord Darlington
Played by Stephen Campbell Moore
A charming, cynical playboy who pursues Meg and challenges conventional morality.
Tuppy
Played by Tom Wilkinson
Mrs. Erlynne's wealthy, devoted suitor who offers her respectability and marriage.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Glamorous 1930s Amalfi Coast society. Young newlyweds Meg and Robert Windermere enjoy an idyllic, innocent life among the wealthy expatriate community. Meg is celebrating her birthday, surrounded by beauty and privilege.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Mrs. Erlynne identifies the wealthy Windermeres as her target and begins her plan to extract money from them. She approaches Robert privately, creating the central conflict that will threaten Meg's marriage and happiness.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Meg discovers evidence of Robert's secret payments to Mrs. Erlynne. She actively chooses to investigate rather than trust blindly, crossing into a world of suspicion and doubt. Her innocence is irreversibly challenged., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat At a major social gathering, Meg witnesses what appears to be confirmation of Robert's betrayal with Mrs. Erlynne. False defeat: things seem terrible. Simultaneously, Mrs. Erlynne observes Meg's pain and begins to feel maternal guilt. The stakes raise dramatically - Meg is now truly considering leaving Robert., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Meg decides to go to Lord Darlington's rooms, intending to leave her husband and ruin her reputation. This is the moral death - the destruction of her marriage and innocence. Mrs. Erlynne discovers Meg's plan. Everything has collapsed into potential tragedy., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Mrs. Erlynne makes her choice: she will sacrifice her own reputation to save her daughter's. Robert and other men arrive unexpectedly at Darlington's rooms. The synthesis moment - Mrs. Erlynne combines her worldly cunning with newfound maternal love to execute her rescue plan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Good Woman'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 A Good Woman against these established plot points, we can identify how Mike Barker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Good Woman 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
Glamorous 1930s Amalfi Coast society. Young newlyweds Meg and Robert Windermere enjoy an idyllic, innocent life among the wealthy expatriate community. Meg is celebrating her birthday, surrounded by beauty and privilege.
Theme
Mrs. Erlynne or another character delivers a Wilde epigram about reputation, appearances, and the masks people wear in society: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." The theme of reputation vs. reality is established.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the social world of the Italian coast expatriate community. Mrs. Erlynne arrives with her scandalous reputation. Meg is established as innocent and trusting. Robert is protective of his young wife. The social hierarchy and gossip network are revealed.
Disruption
Mrs. Erlynne identifies the wealthy Windermeres as her target and begins her plan to extract money from them. She approaches Robert privately, creating the central conflict that will threaten Meg's marriage and happiness.
Resistance
Robert debates whether to pay Mrs. Erlynne to keep her secret (that she is Meg's abandoned mother). Meg begins to notice strange behavior. The Contessa and other society members offer commentary and warnings. Tension builds as gossip spreads about Robert's mysterious meetings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Meg discovers evidence of Robert's secret payments to Mrs. Erlynne. She actively chooses to investigate rather than trust blindly, crossing into a world of suspicion and doubt. Her innocence is irreversibly challenged.
Mirror World
Lord Darlington begins his courtship of Meg, presenting himself as an alternative to her apparently unfaithful husband. He represents the thematic counterpoint: escape vs. commitment, passion vs. duty. This relationship will teach Meg what she truly values.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Wildean social comedy. Mrs. Erlynne charms the social set with her wit while secretly meeting with Robert. Meg grows closer to Lord Darlington. Sharp dialogue, social maneuvering, and romantic tension play out against the beautiful Italian backdrop. The audience experiences the promise of the premise: Wilde's comedy of manners.
Midpoint
At a major social gathering, Meg witnesses what appears to be confirmation of Robert's betrayal with Mrs. Erlynne. False defeat: things seem terrible. Simultaneously, Mrs. Erlynne observes Meg's pain and begins to feel maternal guilt. The stakes raise dramatically - Meg is now truly considering leaving Robert.
Opposition
Lord Darlington presses his advantage, essentially proposing an affair. Meg's resistance weakens as her hurt deepens. Mrs. Erlynne realizes the damage her presence is causing but struggles between self-interest and maternal feeling. Social pressure and gossip intensify. Robert cannot explain without revealing the truth about Mrs. Erlynne.
Collapse
Meg decides to go to Lord Darlington's rooms, intending to leave her husband and ruin her reputation. This is the moral death - the destruction of her marriage and innocence. Mrs. Erlynne discovers Meg's plan. Everything has collapsed into potential tragedy.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Mrs. Erlynne rushes to Lord Darlington's rooms to save Meg. Both women face their moment of truth: Meg must choose between escape and commitment; Mrs. Erlynne must choose between self-preservation and maternal sacrifice. The emotional darkness before the dawn.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mrs. Erlynne makes her choice: she will sacrifice her own reputation to save her daughter's. Robert and other men arrive unexpectedly at Darlington's rooms. The synthesis moment - Mrs. Erlynne combines her worldly cunning with newfound maternal love to execute her rescue plan.
Synthesis
The finale confrontation. Mrs. Erlynne reveals herself instead of the hidden Meg, allowing society to believe she was meeting Darlington. Her reputation is destroyed but Meg's is saved. Meg realizes her marriage is worth fighting for. Robert and Meg reconcile. Mrs. Erlynne accepts her exile, having found redemption through sacrifice.
Transformation
Mrs. Erlynne departs Italy with quiet dignity, transformed from selfish schemer to self-sacrificing mother. Meg remains innocent of the truth but is wiser about her marriage. The final image mirrors the opening's glamorous society, but now we see beneath the surface - redemption is possible, love requires sacrifice, and some good deeds must remain secret.