Reversal of Fortune
Alan Dershowitz a brilliant professor of law is hired by wealthy socialite Claus von Bulow to attempt to overturn his two convictions for attempted murder of his extremely wealthy wife. Based on a true story the film concentrates not on the trial like other legal thrillers, but on the preparatory work that Dershowitz and his students put in as they attempt to disprove the prosecution's case and achieve the Reversal of Fortune of the title.
The film earned $15.4M at the global box office.
1 Oscar. 13 wins & 16 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%)
Reversal of Fortune (1990) reveals meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Barbet Schroeder's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Claus von Bülow
Alan Dershowitz
Sunny von Bülow
Cosima von Bülow
Andrea Reynolds
Main Cast & Characters
Claus von Bülow
Played by Jeremy Irons
Aristocratic socialite accused of attempting to murder his wife through insulin injections, maintaining his innocence throughout.
Alan Dershowitz
Played by Ron Silver
Harvard law professor and defense attorney who takes on von Bülow's appeal with intellectual rigor and determination.
Sunny von Bülow
Played by Glenn Close
Wealthy heiress who falls into an irreversible coma, her voice narrating from beyond as the mystery unfolds.
Cosima von Bülow
Played by Annabella Sciorra
Claus and Sunny's daughter who believes her father is guilty and testifies against him.
Andrea Reynolds
Played by Christine Baranski
Claus's mistress whose relationship becomes evidence in the case against him.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Sunny von Bülow's voiceover from her coma introduces the mystery and the opulent world of Newport society. She lies in a permanent vegetative state while we learn of Claus's conviction for attempted murder.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Dershowitz agrees to take Claus von Bülow's appeal case despite his doubts about Claus's innocence. This decision disrupts his comfortable academic life and commits him to a morally ambiguous fight.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The team commits fully to an active investigation, deciding to dig deeper into Sunny's medical history and drug use. They shift from passive case review to aggressive pursuit of exculpatory evidence., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Major discovery about Sunny's insulin levels or medical evidence that could establish reasonable doubt. False victory: the case seems winnable, but Claus remains enigmatic and won't fully cooperate with his own defense., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Darkest moment of doubt about winning the appeal. Confrontation with Claus who refuses to help himself. The darkest flashback shows the morning Sunny was found. The truth seems unknowable and reasonable doubt impossible to establish., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Breakthrough realization: focus on what can be proven rather than what actually happened. New strategy for establishing reasonable doubt through medical expert testimony. The team finds clarity in the legal standard rather than absolute truth., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Reversal of Fortune'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 Reversal of Fortune against these established plot points, we can identify how Barbet Schroeder utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Reversal of Fortune within the biography genre.
Barbet Schroeder's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Barbet Schroeder films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Reversal of Fortune takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Barbet Schroeder filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include After Thomas, Taking Woodstock and The Fire Inside. For more Barbet Schroeder analyses, see Kiss of Death, Desperate Measures and Murder by Numbers.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sunny von Bülow's voiceover from her coma introduces the mystery and the opulent world of Newport society. She lies in a permanent vegetative state while we learn of Claus's conviction for attempted murder.
Theme
A student or colleague questions the ethics of defending someone who might be guilty, establishing the film's central theme: the difference between truth and legal truth, and the principle that everyone deserves a defense.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of Alan Dershowitz's academic world at Harvard, Claus's conviction at trial, the prosecution's case involving insulin injection and the mysterious "black bag." Flashbacks establish the von Bülow's troubled marriage and privileged lifestyle.
Disruption
Dershowitz agrees to take Claus von Bülow's appeal case despite his doubts about Claus's innocence. This decision disrupts his comfortable academic life and commits him to a morally ambiguous fight.
Resistance
Dershowitz assembles his team of law students to investigate. They debate Claus's guilt, review trial evidence, and explore alternative theories including suicide attempt and accidental overdose. Resistance and doubt permeate the team.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The team commits fully to an active investigation, deciding to dig deeper into Sunny's medical history and drug use. They shift from passive case review to aggressive pursuit of exculpatory evidence.
Mirror World
Flashbacks deepen the portrait of Claus and Sunny's dysfunctional relationship. Their toxic marriage serves as the thematic mirror, exploring co-dependency, self-destruction, and the unknowability of truth within intimate relationships.
Premise
The investigation unfolds as intellectual detective work: discovering Sunny's drug dependencies, interviewing witnesses with conflicting perspectives, finding inconsistencies in medical evidence. Flashbacks reveal Sunny's decline and self-destructive behavior.
Midpoint
Major discovery about Sunny's insulin levels or medical evidence that could establish reasonable doubt. False victory: the case seems winnable, but Claus remains enigmatic and won't fully cooperate with his own defense.
Opposition
Pressure mounts as the prosecution's evidence remains strong. Claus's affair with Alexandra Isles complicates the narrative. The "black bag" stays unexplained. Dershowitz grows frustrated with Claus's evasiveness while flashbacks show the most damaging evidence.
Collapse
Darkest moment of doubt about winning the appeal. Confrontation with Claus who refuses to help himself. The darkest flashback shows the morning Sunny was found. The truth seems unknowable and reasonable doubt impossible to establish.
Crisis
Dershowitz reflects on justice, truth, and his role as defender. Moral reckoning about whether legal victory equals moral victory. The team questions their commitment to defending someone who may be guilty.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Breakthrough realization: focus on what can be proven rather than what actually happened. New strategy for establishing reasonable doubt through medical expert testimony. The team finds clarity in the legal standard rather than absolute truth.
Synthesis
The appeal hearing proceeds with systematic dismantling of the prosecution's medical evidence. The defense demonstrates reasonable doubt without proving innocence. Legal procedure confronts moral ambiguity in the courtroom.
Transformation
Verdict: Claus's conviction is overturned. Sunny remains in her coma, truth remains unknowable. Dershowitz has transformed, accepting that legal victory doesn't require moral certainty. Claus walks free, enigmatic as ever.