Intermission
A raucous story of the interweaving lives and loves of small-town delinquents, shady cops, pretty good girls and very bad boys. With Irish guts and grit, lives collide, preconceptions shatter and romance is tested to the extreme. An ill-timed and poorly executed couple's break-up sets off a chain of events affecting everyone in town.
The film underperformed commercially against its limited budget of $5.0M, earning $4.9M globally (-3% loss).
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%)
Intermission (2003) demonstrates strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of John Crowley'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 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes John breaks up with Deirdre at a cafe, establishing the interconnected world of Dublin's frustrated characters stuck in mundane lives, seeking escape or change.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Deirdre begins dating Sam (the older bank manager), which devastates John and sets multiple character arcs into motion as the breakup ripples through the community.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Lehiff actively recruits John into the bank robbery scheme, while Sally commits to laser treatment, and Jerry gets approval to film his "cop on the street" documentary—all crossing into new territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The bank robbery is set in motion and John discovers Sam is the manager of the target bank—a false defeat that raises the stakes and makes everything personal and dangerous., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The bank robbery goes disastrously wrong with a hostage situation, Sally is severely injured and disfigured, and all characters hit their lowest points as consequences of their choices manifest violently., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. John realizes he must take responsibility and make things right, while other characters gain clarity about what truly matters—choosing honesty and genuine connection over schemes and desperation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Intermission's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Intermission against these established plot points, we can identify how John Crowley utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Intermission within the comedy genre.
John Crowley's Structural Approach
Among the 4 John Crowley films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Intermission takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Crowley filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Crowley analyses, see We Live in Time, Closed Circuit and Brooklyn.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
John breaks up with Deirdre at a cafe, establishing the interconnected world of Dublin's frustrated characters stuck in mundane lives, seeking escape or change.
Theme
Detective Jerry Lynch talks about "decisive moments" and how people reveal their true nature in crisis, setting up the film's theme about desperate actions and consequences.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the ensemble cast: John's regret over the breakup, Lehiff's petty criminal schemes, Sally's insecurity about her mustache, Oscar's lonely bus route, and Sam's attraction to Deirdre.
Disruption
Deirdre begins dating Sam (the older bank manager), which devastates John and sets multiple character arcs into motion as the breakup ripples through the community.
Resistance
Characters debate their responses: John obsesses over winning Deirdre back, Lehiff plans a bank robbery, Sally considers mustache removal, and Jerry pitches his reality TV show idea.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lehiff actively recruits John into the bank robbery scheme, while Sally commits to laser treatment, and Jerry gets approval to film his "cop on the street" documentary—all crossing into new territory.
Mirror World
Oscar and Sally's awkward but genuine connection develops on the bus route, representing authentic human connection that contrasts with the deception and manipulation in other relationships.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the ensemble plot: John and Lehiff plan the robbery, Deirdre and Sam's relationship progresses, Jerry films his documentary following criminals, Sally's treatment complications, and romantic entanglements deepen.
Midpoint
The bank robbery is set in motion and John discovers Sam is the manager of the target bank—a false defeat that raises the stakes and makes everything personal and dangerous.
Opposition
Complications mount: the robbery plan becomes chaotic, relationships deteriorate, Jerry's documentary obsession intensifies, Sally's injury from the botched laser treatment worsens, and all plotlines converge toward disaster.
Collapse
The bank robbery goes disastrously wrong with a hostage situation, Sally is severely injured and disfigured, and all characters hit their lowest points as consequences of their choices manifest violently.
Crisis
Characters face the fallout: John confronts his selfishness, Lehiff deals with the violence he's caused, and everyone processes how their desperate attempts to change their lives have led to destruction.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
John realizes he must take responsibility and make things right, while other characters gain clarity about what truly matters—choosing honesty and genuine connection over schemes and desperation.
Synthesis
Resolution of plotlines: the hostage crisis is resolved, legal consequences unfold, relationships are mended or ended with honesty, and characters accept their situations with newfound maturity and genuine human connection.
Transformation
The interconnected characters have found peace through acceptance rather than desperate schemes—John and Deirdre reconcile with understanding, Oscar and Sally find real connection, reflecting growth from the opening's discontent.