It's Only the End of the World
After 12 years of absence, Louis (Gaspard Ulliel), a writer, goes back to his hometown, planning on announcing his upcoming death to his family. As resentment soon rewrites the course of the afternoon, fits and feuds unfold, fuelled by loneliness and doubt, while all attempts of empathy are sabotaged by people's incapacity to listen and love.
Working with a tight budget of $7.4M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $9.2M in global revenue (+25% profit margin).
19 wins & 39 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%)
It's Only the End of the World (2016) demonstrates strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Xavier Dolan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 39 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Louis on the plane, anxious and isolated. Close-ups reveal his internal tension as he prepares to return to his family home after 12 years of absence.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Antoine's first major eruption of anger and resentment toward Louis for abandoning the family. The veneer of civility shatters, revealing the deep wounds of Louis's absence.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Louis decides to stay and attempt to tell his family about his terminal illness despite the hostility. He commits to spending the day trying to find the right moment., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Antoine's explosive confrontation with Louis reaches its peak. He attacks Louis's choices, his absence, his "better" life away from them. The false hope that Louis could communicate with them collapses., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Louis's complete breakdown. The emotional death of his hope to communicate. He realizes he will leave without telling them, and they will never know. The dream of reconciliation dies., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Louis accepts that some silences cannot be broken. He understands that his family's inability to hear him is not his failure—it's the tragedy of who they all are together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It's Only the End of the World's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping It's Only the End of the World against these established plot points, we can identify how Xavier Dolan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish It's Only the End of the World within the drama genre.
Xavier Dolan's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Xavier Dolan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. It's Only the End of the World exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Xavier Dolan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Xavier Dolan analyses, see Mommy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Louis on the plane, anxious and isolated. Close-ups reveal his internal tension as he prepares to return to his family home after 12 years of absence.
Theme
Suzanne (sister-in-law) speaks about wanting things to be "like they used to be" and the impossibility of going back, establishing the film's theme about communication, regret, and irreversible time.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the family dynamics: Louis arrives, tense reunion with mother La Mère, aggressive brother Antoine, anxious Suzanne, and younger sister Catherine. Claustrophobic framing and extreme close-ups establish the suffocating atmosphere.
Disruption
Antoine's first major eruption of anger and resentment toward Louis for abandoning the family. The veneer of civility shatters, revealing the deep wounds of Louis's absence.
Resistance
Louis attempts to navigate the hostile environment. Catherine tries to connect with him about his life and work. Louis debates internally whether he can tell them his news, rehearsing possibilities in his mind.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Louis decides to stay and attempt to tell his family about his terminal illness despite the hostility. He commits to spending the day trying to find the right moment.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—watching Louis attempt to connect with each family member, seeking an opening to reveal his truth. Meals, conversations, and mounting tensions as old wounds resurface.
Midpoint
Antoine's explosive confrontation with Louis reaches its peak. He attacks Louis's choices, his absence, his "better" life away from them. The false hope that Louis could communicate with them collapses.
Opposition
The family dynamics deteriorate further. Each attempt Louis makes to speak is interrupted or shut down. La Mère's denial and forced cheerfulness becomes painful. Suzanne's desperate attempts to keep peace fail.
Collapse
Louis's complete breakdown. The emotional death of his hope to communicate. He realizes he will leave without telling them, and they will never know. The dream of reconciliation dies.
Crisis
Louis sits in silence, processing the impossibility of his situation. The family continues their dysfunction around him, oblivious to his internal devastation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Louis accepts that some silences cannot be broken. He understands that his family's inability to hear him is not his failure—it's the tragedy of who they all are together.
Synthesis
Louis prepares to leave. Final moments with each family member. Catherine senses something unspoken. Louis says goodbye knowing they will never see each other again, and they don't know it.
Transformation
Louis departs in the taxi, looking back at the house. Mirror to opening but transformed—he arrived with hope of closure, he leaves with acceptance of irresolution. He is still alone, now forever.