Music Box
Hungarian immigrant Mike Laszlo has done well for himself since arriving in the USA over 40 years ago after WWII's end. He is particularly proud of his daughter, Ann, a successful lawyer. Following the release of some secret WWII records by the Russians, Mike finds himself accused of being a notorious war criminal. He's convinced it's a Communist plot to discredit him and insists that Ann defend him in court.
The film earned $6.3M at the global box office.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 3 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%)
Music Box (1989) exemplifies precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Costa-Gavras's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 4 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ann Talbot
Mike Laszlo
Jack Burke
Karchy Laszlo
Harry Talbot
Main Cast & Characters
Ann Talbot
Played by Jessica Lange
A dedicated Chicago lawyer who defends her father against war crime accusations, facing a crisis of faith and family loyalty.
Mike Laszlo
Played by Armin Mueller-Stahl
Ann's Hungarian immigrant father accused of being a Nazi war criminal, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.
Jack Burke
Played by Frederic Forrest
Federal prosecutor determined to prove Mike Laszlo's guilt as a war criminal.
Karchy Laszlo
Played by Lukas Haas
Ann's son and Mike's grandson, caught in the family turmoil surrounding the accusations.
Harry Talbot
Played by Donald Moffat
Ann's ex-husband and Karchy's father, skeptical of Mike's innocence.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ann Talbot is shown as a successful Chicago attorney and devoted single mother, living a comfortable life with her son and maintaining a close relationship with her Hungarian immigrant father, Mike Laszlo.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Federal agents arrive to arrest Mike Laszlo for lying on his immigration documents. He is accused of being Mishka, a brutal Hungarian war criminal responsible for atrocities during World War II. The family's world shatters.. At 11% 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 demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ann makes the active choice to defend her father, believing completely in his innocence. She commits fully to the case, entering the world of war crimes investigation and Holocaust testimony., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Ann successfully discredits a key witness and the case appears to be going her way. Mike seems vindicated. Her belief in his innocence is at its peak, but this success blinds her to accumulating contradictions., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ann discovers the music box - a gift from her father - contains photographs proving he was indeed Mishka, the war criminal. Her father's innocence "dies," along with her childhood, her faith, and her sense of identity. Everything she believed collapses., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 99 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ann makes the painful decision to proceed with the defense despite knowing the truth, but she will not hide the evidence. She achieves synthesis: her duty as a lawyer meets her duty to truth. She will let justice unfold as it must., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Music Box's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Music Box against these established plot points, we can identify how Costa-Gavras utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Music Box within the crime genre.
Costa-Gavras's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Costa-Gavras films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Music Box represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Costa-Gavras filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Rustom and The Whole Ten Yards. For more Costa-Gavras analyses, see Mad City, State of Siege and Z.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ann Talbot is shown as a successful Chicago attorney and devoted single mother, living a comfortable life with her son and maintaining a close relationship with her Hungarian immigrant father, Mike Laszlo.
Theme
Mike tells Ann: "Truth is what you believe" - a statement that will haunt the entire narrative as Ann must grapple with objective truth versus familial loyalty.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of Ann's family dynamics, her successful law practice, Mike's relationship with his grandson, and the tight-knit Hungarian-American community. Establishes Ann's belief in her father's goodness and her skills as a defense attorney.
Disruption
Federal agents arrive to arrest Mike Laszlo for lying on his immigration documents. He is accused of being Mishka, a brutal Hungarian war criminal responsible for atrocities during World War II. The family's world shatters.
Resistance
Ann initially resists taking the case, suggesting other attorneys. Her brother Harry warns her about the dangers of defending their father. Mike insists on his innocence. Ann debates whether she can remain objective while defending family.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ann makes the active choice to defend her father, believing completely in his innocence. She commits fully to the case, entering the world of war crimes investigation and Holocaust testimony.
Mirror World
Ann works with investigator Jack Burke, who becomes both professional partner and potential romantic interest. Jack represents objective truth-seeking, contrasting with Ann's emotional investment. He will force her to confront uncomfortable evidence.
Premise
Ann aggressively defends her father, cross-examining Holocaust survivors, investigating witnesses in Hungary, and building a defense case. She uses all her legal skills to dismantle prosecution evidence, believing she's fighting for justice and her father's honor.
Midpoint
False victory: Ann successfully discredits a key witness and the case appears to be going her way. Mike seems vindicated. Her belief in his innocence is at its peak, but this success blinds her to accumulating contradictions.
Opposition
More witnesses come forward with horrific testimony. Ann finds disturbing photographs and evidence during her investigation in Hungary. Jack expresses doubts. Ann's son is harassed at school. The weight of evidence begins to mount despite her legal victories.
Collapse
Ann discovers the music box - a gift from her father - contains photographs proving he was indeed Mishka, the war criminal. Her father's innocence "dies," along with her childhood, her faith, and her sense of identity. Everything she believed collapses.
Crisis
Ann processes the devastating truth in anguished silence. She cannot share this discovery without destroying her defense. She sits with the photographs, confronting the monster her beloved father truly was, wrestling with her moral and legal obligations.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ann makes the painful decision to proceed with the defense despite knowing the truth, but she will not hide the evidence. She achieves synthesis: her duty as a lawyer meets her duty to truth. She will let justice unfold as it must.
Synthesis
The trial concludes with Ann delivering her defense, though now knowing the truth. Mike is acquitted on a technicality. Ann confronts her father with the evidence in their final devastating encounter, where he shows no remorse, only concern for himself.
Transformation
Ann walks away from her father forever, alone in the courthouse. The woman who began believing in absolute familial loyalty now understands that truth transcends blood. She has lost her father but gained moral clarity, transformed by unbearable knowledge.