Last Tango in Paris
While looking for an apartment, Jeanne, a beautiful young Parisienne, encounters Paul, a mysterious American expatriate mourning his wife's recent suicide. Instantly drawn to each other, they have a stormy, passionate affair, in which they do not reveal their names to each other. Their relationship deeply affects their lives, as Paul struggles with his wife's death and Jeanne prepares to marry her fiance, Tom, a film director making a cinema-verite documentary about her.
Despite its small-scale budget of $1.3M, Last Tango in Paris became a runaway success, earning $36.2M worldwide—a remarkable 2795% return. The film's innovative storytelling resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 7 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%)
Last Tango in Paris (1972) reveals meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Bernardo Bertolucci's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 9 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 Paul walks alone on a Paris bridge, devastated and aimless after his wife's recent suicide. The opening establishes his emotional wasteland.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Paul sexually assaults Jeanne in the empty apartment, establishing the violent, anonymous relationship that will define the film. The old world of propriety is shattered.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Jeanne actively chooses to return to the apartment and enter Paul's world of anonymous sexuality, accepting his terms. She commits to the destructive relationship., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Paul discovers evidence of his wife's affair and confronts her corpse at the funeral home. The false refuge of anonymous sex is exposed; he cannot escape his grief and rage., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jeanne tells Paul she won't return to the apartment; their anonymous world dies. Paul, facing complete emptiness, experiences the death of his last refuge from reality., demonstrates 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 79% of the runtime. Paul follows Jeanne to a tango hall and breaks his own rule: he reveals himself, tells her his name and his story. He attempts genuine connection, but it's too late., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Last Tango in Paris'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 Last Tango in Paris against these established plot points, we can identify how Bernardo Bertolucci utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Last Tango in Paris within the drama genre.
Bernardo Bertolucci's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Bernardo Bertolucci films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Last Tango in Paris represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bernardo Bertolucci filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Bernardo Bertolucci analyses, see Little Buddha, The Dreamers and Stealing Beauty.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Paul walks alone on a Paris bridge, devastated and aimless after his wife's recent suicide. The opening establishes his emotional wasteland.
Theme
In the empty apartment, the implicit theme emerges: Can anonymous intimacy without identity provide escape from pain, or does it destroy what remains of our humanity?
Worldbuilding
Introduction of Paul's grief over his wife Rosa's suicide, Jeanne's upcoming marriage to Tom the filmmaker, and the chance meeting at the vacant apartment both are viewing.
Disruption
Paul sexually assaults Jeanne in the empty apartment, establishing the violent, anonymous relationship that will define the film. The old world of propriety is shattered.
Resistance
Jeanne debates returning to the apartment. Paul establishes the rules: no names, no personal history, only physical existence. She resists but is drawn back despite the engagement to Tom.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jeanne actively chooses to return to the apartment and enter Paul's world of anonymous sexuality, accepting his terms. She commits to the destructive relationship.
Mirror World
Tom films Jeanne for his cinema-verite documentary, representing conventional love and identity. This subplot contrasts Paul's anonymity with Tom's obsessive need to capture and define Jeanne.
Premise
The destructive dance between Paul and Jeanne intensifies in the apartment. Their encounters grow more extreme and degrading as Paul attempts to obliterate identity and emotion through sexuality.
Midpoint
Paul discovers evidence of his wife's affair and confronts her corpse at the funeral home. The false refuge of anonymous sex is exposed; he cannot escape his grief and rage.
Opposition
Paul becomes more unhinged and emotionally violent. Jeanne begins to recognize the toxicity but remains trapped. The apartment becomes a prison rather than escape. Paul's identity dissolves further.
Collapse
Jeanne tells Paul she won't return to the apartment; their anonymous world dies. Paul, facing complete emptiness, experiences the death of his last refuge from reality.
Crisis
Paul wanders in darkness, completely broken. He can no longer sustain the fantasy of identity-less existence. His grief and madness are undeniable.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Paul follows Jeanne to a tango hall and breaks his own rule: he reveals himself, tells her his name and his story. He attempts genuine connection, but it's too late.
Synthesis
Paul pursues Jeanne to her family apartment, professing love. She rejects him violently, retrieves her father's gun, and shoots Paul. He dies on the balcony. She rehearses her story for police.
Transformation
Jeanne sits in shock, rehearsing that she doesn't know the dead man's name. The transformation is tragic: she has become what Paul wanted—someone who denies identity and human connection.