Bound
Corky, a lesbian ex con hired to work in an apartment as a plumber, meets neighbors Caesar, who launders money for the Mafia, and his girlfriend Violet. The two women have a love affair and decide to steal $2,000,000 that Caesar has in custody before he gives them back to Mafia boss Gino Marzone. Caesar is set up by the two scheming women as a scapegoat but things start to go wrong when he reacts in an unexpected way...
Working with a limited budget of $4.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $7.0M in global revenue (+56% profit margin).
8 wins & 13 nominations
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%)
Bound (1996) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Lana Wachowski's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Corky
Violet
Caesar
Main Cast & Characters
Corky
Played by Gina Gershon
An ex-con plumber hired to renovate an apartment who becomes romantically involved with her neighbor Violet in a scheme to steal mob money.
Violet
Played by Jennifer Tilly
The girlfriend of a mob money launderer who plots with Corky to steal $2 million and escape her dangerous relationship.
Caesar
Played by Joe Pantoliano
Violet's volatile mobster boyfriend who launders money for the Mafia and becomes increasingly unstable when the money goes missing.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Corky is shown bound and gagged in a closet, establishing a noir atmosphere of danger and entrapment. The film then flashes back to show how she arrived at this desperate situation.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Violet deliberately follows Corky to the laundry room and initiates a seduction, dropping her earring down the sink as a pretext. Their instant physical and emotional connection disrupts both their isolated worlds.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Corky makes the active choice to trust Violet and agree to the heist. Despite her reservations and prison experience warning her against trusting anyone, she commits to the plan and to Violet., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The heist is executed successfully. Corky steals the money while Caesar is distracted. False victory: everything seems to be going according to plan, but we sense the complications ahead., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Caesar discovers the truth about Corky and Violet's relationship and the theft. He captures Corky and binds her in the closet (the opening scene). Violet appears to have betrayed Corky to save herself - all seems lost., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Violet reveals she has been playing Caesar all along - she never betrayed Corky. The synthesis of theme: Corky's trust was warranted. Violet has been authentic, and together they can defeat Caesar., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bound's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Bound against these established plot points, we can identify how Lana Wachowski utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bound within the crime genre.
Lana Wachowski's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Lana Wachowski films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Bound takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Lana Wachowski filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Rustom and The Whole Ten Yards. For more Lana Wachowski analyses, see The Matrix Resurrections, Speed Racer and The Matrix Revolutions.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Corky is shown bound and gagged in a closet, establishing a noir atmosphere of danger and entrapment. The film then flashes back to show how she arrived at this desperate situation.
Theme
Violet tells Corky about being trapped in her life with Caesar, stating that she knows what it's like to be in a situation where you can't trust anyone. The theme of trust and choosing freedom over captivity is established.
Worldbuilding
We meet Corky renovating the apartment next door, an ex-con trying to go straight. We see Violet's gilded cage life with Caesar, a volatile mob money launderer. The criminal underworld and its codes are established through Shelly's beating.
Disruption
Violet deliberately follows Corky to the laundry room and initiates a seduction, dropping her earring down the sink as a pretext. Their instant physical and emotional connection disrupts both their isolated worlds.
Resistance
Corky and Violet begin their affair in secret. Corky is skeptical of Violet's motives, questioning whether she can trust someone who has been playing a role for so long. Violet reveals her plan to steal $2 million from Caesar and the mob.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Corky makes the active choice to trust Violet and agree to the heist. Despite her reservations and prison experience warning her against trusting anyone, she commits to the plan and to Violet.
Mirror World
The relationship between Corky and Violet deepens as they plan the heist together. Their love story becomes the thematic mirror reflecting what authentic connection and trust look like versus the transactional mob world.
Premise
The fun of the premise: an elaborate heist unfolds. Corky and Violet meticulously plan to steal the mob's $2 million that Caesar is laundering. They rehearse every detail, anticipating Caesar's reactions and preparing their escape.
Midpoint
The heist is executed successfully. Corky steals the money while Caesar is distracted. False victory: everything seems to be going according to plan, but we sense the complications ahead.
Opposition
Caesar discovers the money is missing and becomes increasingly unhinged. The plan goes sideways when Caesar doesn't react as predicted. Bodies start piling up as Caesar kills Shelly and others, becoming more dangerous and unpredictable.
Collapse
Caesar discovers the truth about Corky and Violet's relationship and the theft. He captures Corky and binds her in the closet (the opening scene). Violet appears to have betrayed Corky to save herself - all seems lost.
Crisis
Corky is bound in the closet, convinced Violet has betrayed her. The ultimate test of trust: everything Corky feared about trusting someone seems to have come true. Dark night of the soul as she faces death.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Violet reveals she has been playing Caesar all along - she never betrayed Corky. The synthesis of theme: Corky's trust was warranted. Violet has been authentic, and together they can defeat Caesar.
Synthesis
The final confrontation with Caesar. Violet kills him when he tries to murder Corky. The mob boss Micky arrives but Violet convincingly frames Caesar for all the murders and theft. The plan ultimately succeeds through trust and partnership.
Transformation
Corky and Violet drive away together with the money, free and in love. The final image mirrors the opening bondage but inverts it: they are unbound, authentic, and trusting. Violet's last line: "I know" when Corky says she had to trust her.