Breaking and Entering
A mother and her daughter, a mother and her son, and a man living with one and attracted to the other. Miro, a teen from Sarajevo, lives near King's Cross with his mother; he's nimble, able to run across roofs, so his uncle hires him to break into office skylights, so the uncle can boost computers. Twice they steal from Will's architectural firm, so Will stakes it out at night. He follows Miro home and returns the next day and meets Miro's mother, Amira. At home, Will's relationship with Liv is strained - he feels outside Liv and her daughter Bea's circle. The stakeout and Amira's vulnerability are attractive alternatives to being at home. The police, too, watch Miro.
The film earned $9.0M 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%)
Breaking and Entering (2006) showcases meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Anthony Minghella's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 9 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Will and his partner Sandy move their architectural firm into a renovating King's Cross neighborhood, while Will struggles with his distant relationship with his girlfriend Liv and her autistic daughter Bea.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Will's office is burglarized for the second time. The break-in sets everything in motion, threatening his business and creating an obsession that will upend his life.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Will follows young burglar Miro home and discovers where he lives. Rather than call the police immediately, Will makes the active choice to pursue this connection, crossing into a morally ambiguous investigation., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Amira discovers the truth about Will's initial deception - that he knew Miro was the burglar all along. The relationship built on crossing boundaries collapses, and Will loses both women. His attempts to help have destroyed everything., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Will takes action to help Miro face consequences with support rather than abandonment. He returns to Liv with honest presence rather than distracted obligation, applying the lessons learned through his transgression., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Breaking and Entering's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Breaking and Entering against these established plot points, we can identify how Anthony Minghella utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Breaking and Entering within the crime genre.
Anthony Minghella's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Anthony Minghella films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Breaking and Entering takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Anthony Minghella filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Anthony Minghella analyses, see The English Patient, Cold Mountain and Truly Madly Deeply.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Will and his partner Sandy move their architectural firm into a renovating King's Cross neighborhood, while Will struggles with his distant relationship with his girlfriend Liv and her autistic daughter Bea.
Theme
A character observes that the neighborhood is about renewal and second chances, establishing the film's core theme of redemption, boundaries, and what we break to rebuild ourselves.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Will's fractured home life with Liv and Bea, the gentrifying King's Cross area, the architectural office, and the social tensions between the wealthy newcomers and working-class residents like Amira and her son Miro.
Disruption
Will's office is burglarized for the second time. The break-in sets everything in motion, threatening his business and creating an obsession that will upend his life.
Resistance
Will begins staking out his office at night to catch the burglar. He debates whether to involve police further, resists admitting his failing relationship, and becomes increasingly consumed by the surveillance.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Will follows young burglar Miro home and discovers where he lives. Rather than call the police immediately, Will makes the active choice to pursue this connection, crossing into a morally ambiguous investigation.
Premise
Will pursues a relationship with Amira without revealing he knows about Miro. The "promise of the premise" plays out: crossing boundaries, the affair develops, moral lines blur, and Will explores this new world of passion and deception.
Opposition
The walls close in: Miro is arrested, Liv grows suspicious, Amira begins to sense Will's secrets, and the community tensions escalate. Will's attempt to help Miro from behind the scenes creates more complications.
Collapse
Amira discovers the truth about Will's initial deception - that he knew Miro was the burglar all along. The relationship built on crossing boundaries collapses, and Will loses both women. His attempts to help have destroyed everything.
Crisis
Will faces the wreckage of his choices. He sits with the loss of Amira, the potential loss of Liv, and confronts what his boundary-crossing revealed about himself and what he truly needs.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Will takes action to help Miro face consequences with support rather than abandonment. He returns to Liv with honest presence rather than distracted obligation, applying the lessons learned through his transgression.