Keeping the Faith
Best friends since they were kids, Rabbi Jacob Schram and Father Brian Finn are dynamic and popular young men living and working on New York's Upper West Side. When Anna Reilly, once their childhood friend and now grown into a beautiful corporate executive, suddenly returns to the city, she reenters Jake and Brian's lives and hearts with a vengeance. Sparks fly and an unusual and complicated love triangle ensues.
Working with a mid-range budget of $30.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $59.9M in global revenue (+100% profit margin).
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%)
Keeping the Faith (2000) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Edward Norton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 7 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Rabbi Jake Schram sits alone in a bar, disheveled and drinking, establishing the broken state from which he'll narrate his story in flashback.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Anna Reilly returns to New York as a successful corporate executive, unexpectedly re-entering Jake and Brian's lives after many years apart.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Jake makes the active choice to pursue a romantic relationship with Anna, deciding to see if he can balance his commitment to his faith with his feelings for her., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: Anna reveals to Jake that she knows Brian is also interested in her, and the weight of Jake's deception grows heavier. The complications of maintaining his secret relationship while honoring his position become critically apparent., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 95 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jake's double life is exposed to his congregation. Anna leaves, feeling she can't compete with his faith. Brian refuses to speak to him. Jake loses everything - his best friend, the woman he loves, and the respect of his community. His identity as both man and rabbi dies., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jake realizes that faith doesn't require him to deny love - true faith includes honesty and wholeness. He gains clarity that he must be authentic to both his calling and his heart, integrating both parts of himself rather than choosing between them., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Keeping the Faith's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Keeping the Faith against these established plot points, we can identify how Edward Norton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Keeping the Faith within the comedy genre.
Edward Norton's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Edward Norton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Keeping the Faith represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Edward Norton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Edward Norton analyses, see Motherless Brooklyn.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Rabbi Jake Schram sits alone in a bar, disheveled and drinking, establishing the broken state from which he'll narrate his story in flashback.
Theme
Young Anna tells Jake and Brian that she has to move away, introducing the film's central question: Can faith and love coexist when they pull in different directions?
Worldbuilding
Flashback establishes Jake and Brian's childhood friendship with Anna, then jumps forward to show them as successful clergy in Manhattan - Jake as a rabbi, Brian as a Catholic priest - running their Upper West Side congregations with charisma and modern appeal.
Disruption
Anna Reilly returns to New York as a successful corporate executive, unexpectedly re-entering Jake and Brian's lives after many years apart.
Resistance
The trio reconnects, rekindling their friendship. Jake and Brian both find themselves attracted to Anna. They debate internally whether their vocations allow for romantic feelings, while maintaining their clerical duties.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jake makes the active choice to pursue a romantic relationship with Anna, deciding to see if he can balance his commitment to his faith with his feelings for her.
Mirror World
Anna and Jake begin dating secretly, with Anna representing the thematic mirror - a life of personal happiness versus religious obligation. Their relationship embodies the central conflict of faith versus desire.
Premise
Jake navigates his double life - respected rabbi by day, romantic partner by night. Brian also pursues Anna, unaware of Jake's relationship. The comedy and romance flourish as Jake and Brian try modern approaches to attract congregants while managing their personal lives.
Midpoint
False defeat: Anna reveals to Jake that she knows Brian is also interested in her, and the weight of Jake's deception grows heavier. The complications of maintaining his secret relationship while honoring his position become critically apparent.
Opposition
Jake's congregation becomes suspicious about his behavior. Brian discovers Jake's relationship with Anna and feels betrayed. The pressure intensifies from all sides - his best friend, his congregation, his mother's expectations, and Anna's frustration with being kept secret.
Collapse
Jake's double life is exposed to his congregation. Anna leaves, feeling she can't compete with his faith. Brian refuses to speak to him. Jake loses everything - his best friend, the woman he loves, and the respect of his community. His identity as both man and rabbi dies.
Crisis
Jake spirals into darkness, questioning his choices and his calling. He sits alone in the bar (returning to the frame narrative), processing his losses and wrestling with whether he can be both a man of faith and a man in love.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jake realizes that faith doesn't require him to deny love - true faith includes honesty and wholeness. He gains clarity that he must be authentic to both his calling and his heart, integrating both parts of himself rather than choosing between them.
Synthesis
Jake reconciles with Brian, apologizing for his deception. He pursues Anna openly and honestly, no longer hiding who he is or what he wants. He addresses his congregation with newfound authenticity about the challenges of being human and faithful simultaneously.
Transformation
Jake and Anna reunite, with Jake now whole and integrated - a rabbi who can love openly. The closing images show the three friends together again, with Jake transformed from the broken man in the bar into someone who has learned to keep the faith while embracing love.