Polisse
Paris, France. Fred and his colleagues, members of the BPM, the Police Child Protection Unit, dedicated to pursuing all sorts of offenses committed against the weakest, must endure the scrutiny of Melissa, a photographer commissioned to graphically document the daily routine of the team.
The film earned $20.4M at the global box office.
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%)
Polisse (2011) exemplifies meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Maïwenn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 3 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The CPU officers interrogate a young mother about her toddler's injuries in their cramped office, establishing the relentless, morally complex work of the Child Protection Unit.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when A particularly brutal case involving a sexually abused child forces the team to confront the limits of their power and the inadequacy of the system they serve.. 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 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Fred crosses professional boundaries by beginning a relationship with Melissa, the photographer. This choice to let someone in marks his commitment to vulnerability despite the emotional danger., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat A case goes catastrophically wrong when a child they were monitoring is killed. The false victory of their daily "saves" is shattered by the reality that they cannot protect everyone. The stakes escalate., 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 (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Melissa, pregnant with Fred's child and overwhelmed by the darkness she's documented, dies in a sudden accident. The "whiff of death" is literal—hope and connection are extinguished., reveals 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. Fred realizes that Melissa's photographs—her witness to their work—gives meaning to the suffering. He chooses to return to duty, understanding that the work matters even when they can't save everyone., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Polisse's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Polisse against these established plot points, we can identify how Maïwenn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Polisse within the drama genre.
Maïwenn's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Maïwenn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Polisse takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Maïwenn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Maïwenn analyses, see My King, Jeanne du Barry.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The CPU officers interrogate a young mother about her toddler's injuries in their cramped office, establishing the relentless, morally complex work of the Child Protection Unit.
Theme
A senior officer warns the team: "You can't save them all. Do your job, but don't take it home." The thematic tension between professional duty and emotional cost is established.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the ensemble: Fred the dedicated leader, Iris the tough female cop, Baloo the gentle giant, and others. We see their daily cases—child abuse, neglect, sexual assault—and their dark humor as coping mechanism. Photographer Melissa begins documenting the unit.
Disruption
A particularly brutal case involving a sexually abused child forces the team to confront the limits of their power and the inadequacy of the system they serve.
Resistance
The officers debate how much they can give without breaking. Melissa's camera becomes increasingly intrusive. Personal lives begin to fracture under the weight of the work: divorces loom, anger builds, Fred begins drinking more.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Fred crosses professional boundaries by beginning a relationship with Melissa, the photographer. This choice to let someone in marks his commitment to vulnerability despite the emotional danger.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—deep immersion in CPU casework. We experience the full range: rescuing children from abusive homes, confronting pedophiles, handling immigrant family cases, dealing with teenage prostitution. The team's camaraderie sustains them through horror.
Midpoint
A case goes catastrophically wrong when a child they were monitoring is killed. The false victory of their daily "saves" is shattered by the reality that they cannot protect everyone. The stakes escalate.
Opposition
The team begins to fracture. Fred's drinking worsens. Iris becomes more violent with suspects. Baloo's gentleness hardens. The relationship between Fred and Melissa becomes strained as she witnesses his deterioration. Every case feels heavier.
Collapse
Melissa, pregnant with Fred's child and overwhelmed by the darkness she's documented, dies in a sudden accident. The "whiff of death" is literal—hope and connection are extinguished.
Crisis
Fred and the team process the loss. They attend her funeral. The weight of all the trauma—the cases, the death, the futility—crashes down. Fred contemplates whether continuing this work is possible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Fred realizes that Melissa's photographs—her witness to their work—gives meaning to the suffering. He chooses to return to duty, understanding that the work matters even when they can't save everyone.
Synthesis
The team returns to work. New cases arrive. They continue with the same dark humor, the same dedication, but with a tempered understanding of what they can and cannot control. They persist because the children need them.
Transformation
The team responds to another call, back in their cramped office. The final image mirrors the opening but reveals transformation: they know the cost now, they carry the dead, but they show up anyway.