Our Kind of Traitor
When Perry and his wife, Gail, cross paths with the charismatic Dima on their Moroccan holiday, the forceful Russian is quick to challenge Perry to a friendly game of tennis. But this innocuous contest is not all it seems - Dima is a long-time servant of the Russian mafia, whose new boss, 'The Prince', wants him and his family dead. His only hope is to ask the unsuspecting Perry to broker him sanctuary with the British intelligence services, in return for exposing a vein of corruption that runs right to the heart of the City of London. Soon they find themselves on a tortuous journey through Paris to a safe house in the Swiss Alps and, with the might of the Russian mafia closing in, begin to realize this particular match has the highest stakes of all.
Despite its tight budget of $4.0M, Our Kind of Traitor became a solid performer, earning $9.9M worldwide—a 148% return.
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%)
Our Kind of Traitor (2016) showcases deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Susanna White's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Perry and Gail arrive at a Moroccan hotel, their relationship strained and distant after Perry's infidelity. They barely speak, establishing the fractured state of their marriage.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Dima reveals he's a money launderer for the Russian mafia and desperately needs Perry to deliver a USB drive to British intelligence. Perry, an ordinary academic, is pulled into a dangerous world.. 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.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Dima's colleague and friend is brutally murdered by the Russian mob as a warning. The stakes become lethally clear - this is no longer an adventure but a matter of life and death. False victory turns to real danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The extraction in the French Alps goes catastrophically wrong. Dima is shot and killed protecting his family. The whiff of death is literal - the man they risked everything to save dies in Perry's arms., indicates 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 79% of the runtime. Hector orchestrates the testimony before Parliament. The corrupt official, the Prince, is exposed. Perry and Gail ensure Dima's family reaches safety. Justice is served through institutional channels, combining Hector's experience with Perry's moral conviction., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Our Kind of Traitor's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Our Kind of Traitor against these established plot points, we can identify how Susanna White utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Our Kind of Traitor within the action genre.
Susanna White's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Susanna White films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Our Kind of Traitor takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Susanna White filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Susanna White analyses, see Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Perry and Gail arrive at a Moroccan hotel, their relationship strained and distant after Perry's infidelity. They barely speak, establishing the fractured state of their marriage.
Theme
Dima tells Perry at the party, "You think you know what betrayal is? In my world, betrayal is death." The theme of loyalty, complicity, and moral compromise is introduced.
Worldbuilding
Perry and Gail's strained vacation in Marrakech. Perry plays tennis, they attempt awkward reconciliation. Dima, a charismatic Russian, befriends Perry at the party, showering him with hospitality and vodka.
Disruption
Dima reveals he's a money launderer for the Russian mafia and desperately needs Perry to deliver a USB drive to British intelligence. Perry, an ordinary academic, is pulled into a dangerous world.
Resistance
Perry returns to London, debates whether to get involved. He delivers the USB to MI6. Hector Wakefield, a hardened agent, examines the evidence. Perry and Gail wrestle with whether to help Dima and his family defect.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The promise of the spy thriller: Perry and Gail navigate Paris under surveillance, reconnect with Dima, witness the dangerous world of Russian organized crime. The plan to extract Dima's family takes shape amid champagne and tension.
Midpoint
Dima's colleague and friend is brutally murdered by the Russian mob as a warning. The stakes become lethally clear - this is no longer an adventure but a matter of life and death. False victory turns to real danger.
Opposition
British government corruption surfaces - the Prince is revealed to be complicit with Russian money. MI6 superiors try to shut down the operation. Hector fights internally while Dima and his family are hunted. The bad guys close in from all sides.
Collapse
The extraction in the French Alps goes catastrophically wrong. Dima is shot and killed protecting his family. The whiff of death is literal - the man they risked everything to save dies in Perry's arms.
Crisis
Perry, Gail, and Hector process the devastating loss. Dima's family is traumatized. The operation appears to be a complete failure. They face the dark question: was any of this worth it?
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Hector orchestrates the testimony before Parliament. The corrupt official, the Prince, is exposed. Perry and Gail ensure Dima's family reaches safety. Justice is served through institutional channels, combining Hector's experience with Perry's moral conviction.