Chalet Girl
While working a job at an exclusive ski resort to support her Dad, Kim learns to snowboard and is so good at it that she enters a competition with a huge cash prize. She has to dig deep to overcome her fears, but her life gets more complicated through her spoken-for boss, Jonny.
The film struggled financially against its tight budget of $8.0M, earning $5.5M globally (-32% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the comedy genre.
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%)
Chalet Girl (2011) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Phil Traill's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Kim Matthews
Jonny
Mikki
Bill
Georgie
Caroline
Main Cast & Characters
Kim Matthews
Played by Felicity Jones
Former skateboarding champion forced to work as a chalet girl after her mother's death. Determined, athletic, and fish-out-of-water in the wealthy ski resort world.
Jonny
Played by Ed Westwick
Wealthy, charming heir to a fortune who becomes Kim's love interest. Snowboarder who sees beyond class differences.
Mikki
Played by Tamsin Egerton
Kim's best friend and fellow chalet girl. Fun-loving, supportive, and experienced in the ski resort social scene.
Bill
Played by Bill Bailey
Kim's devoted father who has struggled since his wife's death. Works as a bus driver and supports Kim's dreams.
Georgie
Played by Sophia Bush
Jonny's superficial girlfriend who represents the privileged class Kim must navigate. Antagonistic and condescending.
Caroline
Played by Brooke Shields
The demanding chalet company boss who initially doubts Kim. Strict but fair, runs a tight operation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Kim as a young skateboarding champion training with her mother, establishing her world before tragedy. Shows her talent, relationship with her mom, and the passion she once had.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Kim sees a job posting for chalet staff in the Alps with room and board included. Her friend Georgie encourages her to apply, offering an escape from her current situation.. 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 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Kim decides to stay at the chalet despite her inexperience and the snobbish environment. She actively chooses to enter this new world rather than quit and return to her old life., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Kim discovers she has natural talent at snowboarding and enters a local competition, winning it. False victory: she's found her passion again, but this sets up conflict with her job and growing feelings for Jonny., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Kim is caught in a compromising position with Jonny and is fired from her job. She loses everything: her home, income, and seemingly her chance with Jonny. Metaphorical death of her new life., demonstrates 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. Kim realizes she needs to compete for herself, not for a job or Jonny. Her father and friends support her. She synthesizes her old passion with new confidence to enter the championship on her own terms., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Chalet Girl's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Chalet Girl against these established plot points, we can identify how Phil Traill utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Chalet Girl within the comedy genre.
Phil Traill's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Phil Traill films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Chalet Girl takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Phil Traill filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Phil Traill analyses, see All About Steve.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Kim as a young skateboarding champion training with her mother, establishing her world before tragedy. Shows her talent, relationship with her mom, and the passion she once had.
Theme
Kim's father tells her "You can't live in the past forever" as she works at the fast food job, hinting at the theme of moving forward from grief and rediscovering purpose.
Worldbuilding
Kim's current life: dead-end fast food job, struggling financially with her dad, skateboarding days behind her. Her mother died in a car accident years ago. She's stuck, unfulfilled, avoiding anything that reminds her of her past passion.
Disruption
Kim sees a job posting for chalet staff in the Alps with room and board included. Her friend Georgie encourages her to apply, offering an escape from her current situation.
Resistance
Kim prepares for and travels to Austria. She has no experience but lies about her qualifications. Arrives at the luxury chalet, meets the wealthy Madsen family and staff, feels completely out of place.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kim decides to stay at the chalet despite her inexperience and the snobbish environment. She actively chooses to enter this new world rather than quit and return to her old life.
Mirror World
Kim has her first real conversation with Jonny, the Madsen son. He's kind to her despite the class difference, representing the possibility of connection and acceptance in this new world.
Premise
Kim learns to be a chalet girl, makes mistakes, bonds with fellow staff. She discovers snowboarding, which reignites her passion for board sports. Growing attraction between Kim and Jonny despite class barriers and his girlfriend Chloe.
Midpoint
Kim discovers she has natural talent at snowboarding and enters a local competition, winning it. False victory: she's found her passion again, but this sets up conflict with her job and growing feelings for Jonny.
Opposition
Kim trains for the major snowboarding championship. Her relationship with Jonny deepens but faces opposition from his girlfriend Chloe and the class divide. Her duties as chalet girl conflict with training. Pressure mounts from all sides.
Collapse
Kim is caught in a compromising position with Jonny and is fired from her job. She loses everything: her home, income, and seemingly her chance with Jonny. Metaphorical death of her new life.
Crisis
Kim prepares to leave, devastated. She questions whether she should even compete in the championship. Dark night where she must decide who she is and what she wants from life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kim realizes she needs to compete for herself, not for a job or Jonny. Her father and friends support her. She synthesizes her old passion with new confidence to enter the championship on her own terms.
Synthesis
Kim competes in the snowboarding championship, performing brilliantly. She wins, proving her talent and worth. Jonny breaks up with Chloe and finds Kim. Resolution of both external plot (competition) and internal journey (self-worth).
Transformation
Kim and Jonny together on the slopes, Kim now a professional snowboarder with sponsorship. Mirrors opening image but transformed: she's rediscovered her passion, moved past grief, and found love. No longer stuck in the past.