Angelique
In 17th-century France, beautiful country maiden Angélique marries wealthy neighbor Jeoffray de Peyrac out of convenience, but eventually, she falls in love with him. So when Jeoffray is arrested and then vanishes, she bravely sets out to find him. This is the first of many dramas based on Anne and Serge Golon's novels about strong-willed Angélique and her adventures during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King.
The film earned $22.0M 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%)
Angelique (1964) reveals precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Bernard Borderie'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 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Angélique de Sancé de Monteloup
Joffrey de Peyrac
Philippe du Plessis-Bellière
King Louis XIV
Baron de Sancé
Main Cast & Characters
Angélique de Sancé de Monteloup
Played by Michèle Mercier
A beautiful young noblewoman forced into an arranged marriage who must navigate court intrigue and discover her own strength in 17th century France.
Joffrey de Peyrac
Played by Robert Hossein
A brilliant but scarred nobleman and alchemist who becomes Angélique's husband, initially feared but ultimately loved.
Philippe du Plessis-Bellière
Played by Jean Rochefort
A charming courtier and Angélique's childhood love who represents the romantic life she cannot have.
King Louis XIV
Played by Jacques Toja
The Sun King himself, whose court politics and personal desires drive much of the conflict in the story.
Baron de Sancé
Played by Claude Giraud
Angélique's impoverished noble father who arranges her marriage for financial gain.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Angelique grows up wild and free in the countryside with her impoverished noble family, embodying untamed spirit and independence before the constraints of 17th century French society impose themselves upon her.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Angelique's father announces she has been promised in marriage to the scarred, allegedly demonic Count de Peyrac to save the family from ruin. Her romantic dreams shatter as she's forced into an unwanted union with a man she fears.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Angelique chooses to go through with the marriage ceremony, crossing the threshold from her wild country life into the sophisticated but dangerous world of nobility, wealth, and court intrigue as the Countess de Peyrac., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Joffrey is arrested on false charges of sorcery and sentenced to death. Angelique watches helplessly as her beloved husband is executed, losing everything—her love, her position, her identity as his wife., reveals 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. Angelique navigates her new reality, facing the dangerous world alone but transformed. She demonstrates her resilience and sets up her journey forward, refusing to be broken by tragedy and preparing for future challenges., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Angelique's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Angelique against these established plot points, we can identify how Bernard Borderie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Angelique within the adventure genre.
Bernard Borderie's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Bernard Borderie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Angelique represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bernard Borderie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Bernard Borderie analyses, see Angelique: The Road To Versailles, Angelique and the King and Untamable Angelique.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Angelique grows up wild and free in the countryside with her impoverished noble family, embodying untamed spirit and independence before the constraints of 17th century French society impose themselves upon her.
Theme
Angelique's father speaks about duty and survival: "We must all make sacrifices for our family's future," foreshadowing the central conflict between love and obligation, passion and pragmatism.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Angelique's world: her family's poverty despite noble status, the dangers and superstitions of rural France, her untamed nature, and the introduction of the mysterious Count Joffrey de Peyrac as a rumored sorcerer whom she fears.
Disruption
Angelique's father announces she has been promised in marriage to the scarred, allegedly demonic Count de Peyrac to save the family from ruin. Her romantic dreams shatter as she's forced into an unwanted union with a man she fears.
Resistance
Angelique resists the marriage, attempts to flee, and struggles with her fate. She debates her duty versus her desires, while learning more about the enigmatic Count and confronting her prejudices about him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Angelique chooses to go through with the marriage ceremony, crossing the threshold from her wild country life into the sophisticated but dangerous world of nobility, wealth, and court intrigue as the Countess de Peyrac.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Angelique transforms from frightened bride to confident countess, discovers passion and love with Joffrey, navigates court life at Versailles, and experiences the romance and adventure the audience came for.
Opposition
Court enemies conspire against Joffrey, jealous nobles spread rumors of sorcery, and the King himself becomes a threat. The couple's happiness makes them targets, and political forces close in around them.
Collapse
All is lost: Joffrey is arrested on false charges of sorcery and sentenced to death. Angelique watches helplessly as her beloved husband is executed, losing everything—her love, her position, her identity as his wife.
Crisis
Angelique's dark night of the soul: grieving Joffrey's death, stripped of her title and wealth, she must process her devastating loss and find the strength to survive in a world that has destroyed her happiness.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Angelique navigates her new reality, facing the dangerous world alone but transformed. She demonstrates her resilience and sets up her journey forward, refusing to be broken by tragedy and preparing for future challenges.