All Together
A psychotic time-traveling murderer can really put a dent in a good day. Doug comes home to find his family murdered; and he did it to save the future. He has to deal with his psychotic future self tying up a few loose ends; including himself.
The film earned $7.2M 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%)
All Together (2012) showcases meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Stéphane Robelin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Annie
Claude
Jean
Jeanne
Albert
Dirk
Main Cast & Characters
Annie
Played by Jane Fonda
A vibrant former political activist who initiates the idea of communal living among friends
Claude
Played by Pierre Richard
Annie's devoted husband, a retired literature professor dealing with early Parkinson's symptoms
Jean
Played by Guy Bedos
A lifelong bachelor and retired philosophy professor, sharp-witted and curmudgeonly
Jeanne
Played by Geraldine Chaplin
A once-famous concert pianist struggling with arthritis and fading abilities
Albert
Played by Claude Rich
A retired doctor and widower, pragmatic and gentle, Jeanne's longtime companion
Dirk
Played by Daniel Brühl
A young German ethnology student studying aging, becomes their housemate and caretaker
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The five friends - Claude, Annie, Jean, Jeanne, and Albert - are shown living their separate lives in Paris, each facing the challenges and loneliness of aging independently.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Annie has a serious health scare that leaves her hospitalized. Her children begin discussing putting her in a retirement home, which horrifies the friend group and forces them to confront their own mortality and loss of independence.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The five friends make the active decision to pool their resources and move into a large house together. They commit to this unconventional living arrangement, choosing autonomy and friendship over traditional institutional care., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat A celebration or peak moment where the living arrangement seems to be working beautifully. They've proven that their unconventional family can thrive, and there's a sense of victory over societal expectations. But underlying tensions and health realities begin to surface., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A major health crisis occurs - likely one of the friends dies or becomes severely incapacitated. The dream seems shattered, and the group faces the undeniable reality that their arrangement cannot protect them from death and decline., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. A realization emerges: the point wasn't to avoid death or aging, but to face it together with dignity, love, and joy. They recognize that the time they've had together was precious precisely because it was finite. They choose to continue., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
All Together's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping All Together against these established plot points, we can identify how Stéphane Robelin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish All Together within the short genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional short films include This Is England, Chloe and What Remains.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The five friends - Claude, Annie, Jean, Jeanne, and Albert - are shown living their separate lives in Paris, each facing the challenges and loneliness of aging independently.
Theme
Someone remarks that growing old doesn't mean giving up on life or each other, hinting at the film's central question: can we maintain dignity and joy in our final years?
Worldbuilding
Introduction to each friend's world: Annie's memory issues, Jean's past as a political activist, Claude's relationship with her daughter, Jeanne's artistic nature, and Albert's health concerns. Their long-standing friendships and individual struggles are established.
Disruption
Annie has a serious health scare that leaves her hospitalized. Her children begin discussing putting her in a retirement home, which horrifies the friend group and forces them to confront their own mortality and loss of independence.
Resistance
The friends debate what to do. They visit depressing retirement facilities and discuss alternatives. Claude proposes a radical idea: what if they all lived together? Initial resistance and practical concerns are raised about money, space, and compatibility.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The five friends make the active decision to pool their resources and move into a large house together. They commit to this unconventional living arrangement, choosing autonomy and friendship over traditional institutional care.
Mirror World
Dirk, a young ethnology student, is introduced as he asks to study their communal living arrangement for his thesis. He represents youth, curiosity, and a different perspective on aging, becoming integrated into their household.
Premise
The fun of their experiment: establishing house rules, sharing meals, rediscovering romance and passion, having parties, supporting each other through health issues. They create a vibrant, unconventional household that defies stereotypes about aging.
Midpoint
A celebration or peak moment where the living arrangement seems to be working beautifully. They've proven that their unconventional family can thrive, and there's a sense of victory over societal expectations. But underlying tensions and health realities begin to surface.
Opposition
Complications mount: family members express concern and disapproval, health issues become more serious, financial pressures increase, and interpersonal conflicts emerge. The reality of aging cannot be escaped, and their adult children pressure them to reconsider.
Collapse
A major health crisis occurs - likely one of the friends dies or becomes severely incapacitated. The dream seems shattered, and the group faces the undeniable reality that their arrangement cannot protect them from death and decline.
Crisis
The friends grieve and question whether they should continue. They face their darkest fears about mortality, loss, and whether their experiment was foolish. Each contemplates giving up and accepting traditional solutions.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
A realization emerges: the point wasn't to avoid death or aging, but to face it together with dignity, love, and joy. They recognize that the time they've had together was precious precisely because it was finite. They choose to continue.
Synthesis
The friends recommit to their communal life, but with deeper wisdom. They make peace with their families, accept help when needed, and continue their household with full awareness of its impermanence. They celebrate life while acknowledging death.
Transformation
A final image showing the friends together - diminished perhaps in number or health, but enriched in spirit. They've created a chosen family that honors both life's joy and its inevitable end, proving that aging can be faced with grace and togetherness.