Kinky Boots
Charlie Price grew up with his father in the family shoe business, but he never thought he'd take his father's place. But his father's untimely death places him exactly there, where he learns that Price and Sons Shoes is failing. While in despair at his failed attempts to save the business, Charlie has a chance encounter with flamboyant drag queen cabaret singer Lola. Her complaints about the inadequate footwear for her work, combined with the suggestion of one of Charlie's ex-employees, Lauren, lead to a bid to save the business by making men's fetish footwear. Charlie convinces Lola to be their footwear designer and the transition begins. Now this disparate lot must struggle with this unorthodox idea while dealing with the prejudice of the staff, Lola's discomfort in the small town, and the selfish manipulation of Charles' greedy fiancee, who cannot see the greater good in Charlie's dream.
The film underperformed commercially against its tight budget of $10.0M, earning $10.0M globally (0% loss).
2 wins & 7 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%)
Kinky Boots (2005) showcases strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Julian Jarrold's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Charlie watches his father run the traditional Price & Sons shoe factory in Northampton, learning the family trade. Parallel opening shows young Lola (Simon) struggling with his father's expectations of masculinity.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Charlie discovers the factory is on the brink of bankruptcy with orders cancelled and fifteen redundancies necessary. The comfortable life he planned in London is impossible - he must save the factory or lose his father's legacy and put loyal workers on the street.. 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 Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Charlie fails to defend Lola when Don publicly humiliates her, causing a devastating rift. Lola quits and abandons the project. Without Lola, there's no show, no boots, no salvation. Charlie has betrayed the one person who believed in the vision and has become the judgmental person he feared being., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: The team races to complete the boots for Milan. Everyone works together, including Don who finally accepts Lola. The Milan show is a triumphant success with Lola modeling the boots. The factory is saved, orders pour in, and Charlie has learned to lead with compassion rather than fear., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Kinky Boots's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Kinky Boots against these established plot points, we can identify how Julian Jarrold utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Kinky Boots within the comedy genre.
Julian Jarrold's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Julian Jarrold films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Kinky Boots takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Julian Jarrold filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Julian Jarrold analyses, see A Royal Night Out, Brideshead Revisited and Becoming Jane.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Charlie watches his father run the traditional Price & Sons shoe factory in Northampton, learning the family trade. Parallel opening shows young Lola (Simon) struggling with his father's expectations of masculinity.
Theme
Charlie's father tells him: "A man is measured by how he faces his responsibilities." This statement of duty versus authenticity becomes the film's thematic core - both Charlie and Lola must reconcile who they are with what's expected of them.
Worldbuilding
Charlie works in London, engaged to Nicola, avoiding the family business. The factory struggles with declining orders. His father's sudden death forces Charlie to return home and take over the failing business, revealing massive debt and impending layoffs.
Disruption
Charlie discovers the factory is on the brink of bankruptcy with orders cancelled and fifteen redundancies necessary. The comfortable life he planned in London is impossible - he must save the factory or lose his father's legacy and put loyal workers on the street.
Resistance
Charlie debates what to do - sell the factory or try to save it. Nicola pressures him to sell and return to London. Lauren, a factory worker, challenges him to fight for the business. Charlie desperately searches for a new market niche.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The fun and games of designing outrageous boots. Lola works with the skeptical factory workers, cultural clashes lead to comedy and conflict. Charlie and Lola develop their designs while the workers slowly warm to the flamboyant drag queen in their midst. Romance develops between Charlie and Lauren.
Opposition
Pressure mounts as the Milan deadline approaches. Don, a prejudiced worker, intensifies his antagonism toward Lola. Charlie becomes obsessed with the business side, neglecting relationships. Nicola leaves him. Tension grows between Charlie and Lola as Charlie prioritizes profit over Lola's artistic vision and dignity.
Collapse
All is lost: Charlie fails to defend Lola when Don publicly humiliates her, causing a devastating rift. Lola quits and abandons the project. Without Lola, there's no show, no boots, no salvation. Charlie has betrayed the one person who believed in the vision and has become the judgmental person he feared being.
Crisis
Charlie sits in the dark night of his soul, realizing he's failed everyone - Lola, Lauren, the workers, his father's memory. He confronts his own prejudices and fears. Lauren and the workers help him see that he must accept people as they are, just as he wants to be accepted.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: The team races to complete the boots for Milan. Everyone works together, including Don who finally accepts Lola. The Milan show is a triumphant success with Lola modeling the boots. The factory is saved, orders pour in, and Charlie has learned to lead with compassion rather than fear.