Mood Indigo
Set in a charmingly surreal Paris, wealthy bachelor Colin spends his time developing his pianocktail (a cocktail-making piano) and devouring otherworldly dishes prepared by his trusty chef Nicolas. When Colin learns that his best friend Chick, a fellow acolyte of the philosopher Jean-Sol Partre, has a new American girlfriend, our lonely hero attends a friend's party in hopes of falling in love himself. He soon meets Chloe and, before they know it, they're dancing to Duke Ellington and plunging headfirst into a romance. Their whirlwind courtship is tested when an unusual illness plagues Chloe; a flower begins to grow in her lungs. To save her, Colin discovers the only cure is to surround Chloe with a never-ending supply of fresh flowers.
The film underperformed commercially against its mid-range budget of $16.0M, earning $10.4M globally (-35% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the comedy genre.
1 win & 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%)
Mood Indigo (2013) exemplifies carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Michel Gondry's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 11 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 Colin lives in his fantastical apartment with his pianocktail invention, wealthy and carefree but lonely, seeking true love. His whimsical world is vibrant, colorful, and full of surreal mechanical wonders.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Chick invites Colin to a party where he might find love. This invitation disrupts Colin's isolated routine and sets him on the path to meeting his destiny.. 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 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Colin meets Chloe at the party and they share an instant, magical connection. He chooses to pursue her, stepping into the world of romance. Their synchronized dance represents entering a new reality together., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Chloe collapses after the wedding and doctors discover a water lily growing in her lung. False victory becomes false defeat: their perfect love is threatened by mysterious illness. Stakes raise dramatically as Colin learns flowers are killing his bride., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 96 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Chloe dies despite Colin's efforts, the water lily consuming her. Death arrives literally—the whiff of death is absolute. Colin's world has become gray, cramped, and broken, reflecting his devastation., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 105 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Colin accepts Chloe's death and prepares her funeral. He realizes that while love couldn't save her, loving her gave his life meaning. He chooses to honor her memory rather than be destroyed by grief., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Mood Indigo'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 Mood Indigo against these established plot points, we can identify how Michel Gondry utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Mood Indigo within the comedy genre.
Michel Gondry's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Michel Gondry films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Mood Indigo takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michel Gondry filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Michel Gondry analyses, see The Green Hornet, Be Kind Rewind and The Science of Sleep.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Colin lives in his fantastical apartment with his pianocktail invention, wealthy and carefree but lonely, seeking true love. His whimsical world is vibrant, colorful, and full of surreal mechanical wonders.
Theme
Chick discusses Jean-Sol Partre's philosophy about love and existence with Colin, suggesting that love gives life meaning but also makes one vulnerable. This foreshadows the film's meditation on love's power and fragility.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Colin's surreal world: his loyal mouse companion, Nicolas the cook, the pianocktail machine, and best friend Chick's obsession with philosopher Jean-Sol Partre. Colin longs for love like Chick has with Alise.
Disruption
Chick invites Colin to a party where he might find love. This invitation disrupts Colin's isolated routine and sets him on the path to meeting his destiny.
Resistance
Colin prepares for and attends the party with nervous anticipation. He navigates the social gathering awkwardly, observing others in love while searching for his own connection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Colin meets Chloe at the party and they share an instant, magical connection. He chooses to pursue her, stepping into the world of romance. Their synchronized dance represents entering a new reality together.
Mirror World
Chloe becomes Colin's mirror character, embodying the love and meaning he's been seeking. Their relationship represents the thematic promise: that love makes life beautiful and worth living.
Premise
The fun and games of falling in love: Colin and Chloe's whimsical courtship, romantic dates on cloud-walking adventures, their wedding ceremony. The world becomes even more vibrant and magical. Parallel story: Chick's obsession with Partre grows as Alise worries.
Midpoint
Chloe collapses after the wedding and doctors discover a water lily growing in her lung. False victory becomes false defeat: their perfect love is threatened by mysterious illness. Stakes raise dramatically as Colin learns flowers are killing his bride.
Opposition
Colin spends his fortune trying to cure Chloe with expensive flowers (the only treatment). The apartment shrinks and darkens as money runs out. Colin must work degrading jobs. Chick bankrupts himself for Partre books while Alise grows desperate. The vibrant world decays into darkness.
Collapse
Chloe dies despite Colin's efforts, the water lily consuming her. Death arrives literally—the whiff of death is absolute. Colin's world has become gray, cramped, and broken, reflecting his devastation.
Crisis
Colin grieves in his now-tiny, dark apartment. His mouse companion tries to comfort him. The surreal world that was once magical is now nightmarish. Colin processes the loss of everything: his love, his wealth, his joy.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Colin accepts Chloe's death and prepares her funeral. He realizes that while love couldn't save her, loving her gave his life meaning. He chooses to honor her memory rather than be destroyed by grief.
Synthesis
Colin carries Chloe's glass coffin through the decayed streets for her funeral. Parallel resolution: Alise desperately tries to destroy Partre's books and legacy, attempting to free Chick from his fatal obsession. Colin says goodbye to his love.
Transformation
Colin, now aged and broken, watches Chloe's coffin being taken away. The mouse, his last companion, leaves him. Colin stands alone in a completely gray, diminished world—transformed from joyful romantic to tragic figure, but having known true love. The closing image mirrors the opening but inverted: colorless despair replacing vibrant hope.