Holy Cow
Totone's carefree teenage life of drinking and dancing takes a turn when he must provide for his 7-year-old sister. Seeking income, he channels his energy into producing an award-winning comté cheese to claim a competition prize.
The film earned $6.6M at the global box office.
10 wins & 10 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%)
Holy Cow (2024) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Louise Courvoisier's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening image establishes the protagonist's ordinary world and daily routine before the story's central conflict begins.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when An unexpected event disrupts the status quo and presents a problem that demands the protagonist's response.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The protagonist makes an active choice to enter the new world and pursue their goal, marking the point of no return into Act 2., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat A major shift raises the stakes through either a false victory or false defeat, changing the trajectory of the story., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The protagonist's darkest moment containing a whiff of death, where something important dies literally or metaphorically., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. New information or realization allows the protagonist to synthesize their learning and see the path forward, launching Act 3., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Holy Cow'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 Holy Cow against these established plot points, we can identify how Louise Courvoisier utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Holy Cow within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening image establishes the protagonist's ordinary world and daily routine before the story's central conflict begins.
Theme
A supporting character articulates the thematic question that will drive the protagonist's journey and transformation.
Worldbuilding
Setup period introducing the protagonist's world, relationships, stakes, and the rules of this story universe.
Disruption
An unexpected event disrupts the status quo and presents a problem that demands the protagonist's response.
Resistance
Period of resistance and debate where the protagonist wrestles with whether to take action, often receiving guidance or preparation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The protagonist makes an active choice to enter the new world and pursue their goal, marking the point of no return into Act 2.
Mirror World
Introduction of the subplot or relationship that will carry the thematic weight and teach the protagonist what they truly need.
Premise
The fun and games section where the protagonist explores the new world and the audience experiences the promise of the premise.
Midpoint
A major shift raises the stakes through either a false victory or false defeat, changing the trajectory of the story.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies as antagonistic forces close in and the protagonist's flaws and mistakes catch up with them.
Collapse
The protagonist's darkest moment containing a whiff of death, where something important dies literally or metaphorically.
Crisis
The dark night of the soul where the protagonist processes the loss and reaches their emotional low point before finding resolve.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
New information or realization allows the protagonist to synthesize their learning and see the path forward, launching Act 3.
Synthesis
The finale where the protagonist executes their plan, confronts the opposition, and resolves the central conflict.
Transformation
The closing image mirrors the opening but demonstrates how the protagonist has been transformed by their journey.