Rise
Elise thought she had the perfect life: an ideal boyfriend and a promising career as a ballet dancer. It all falls apart the day she catches him cheating on her with her stage backup; and after she suffers an injury on stage, it seems like she might not be able to dance ever again.
Working with a modest budget of $7.8M, the film achieved a modest success with $11.2M in global revenue (+44% profit margin).
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%)
Rise (2022) reveals carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Cédric Klapisch's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Antetokounmpo family lives in poverty in Athens, Greece. Charles and Vera sell goods on the street while struggling as undocumented immigrants, establishing the harsh reality of their ordinary world.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Giannis and Thanasis are recruited to play for a local basketball team, but face racism and skepticism. Their world disrupts as basketball becomes a potential path out of poverty, though fraught with discrimination.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Giannis and Thanasis commit fully to basketball, training intensively despite mockery and hardship. They cross into a new world where basketball is no longer just a game but their family's salvation., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Giannis declares for the 2013 NBA Draft - a false victory. It seems like success is imminent, but he lacks citizenship papers, has no guarantee of being drafted, and the family risks everything on an uncertain future., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Charles dies suddenly, never seeing his sons achieve their dream. The literal death of the patriarch who sacrificed everything devastates the family and threatens to derail everything at the worst possible moment., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Vera reminds Giannis of Charles's belief in them and the bridge metaphor. Giannis realizes he must honor his father by completing the journey, synthesizing his father's sacrifice with his own gifts to transcend their circumstances., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Rise'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 Rise against these established plot points, we can identify how Cédric Klapisch utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Rise within the comedy genre.
Cédric Klapisch's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Cédric Klapisch films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Rise takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Cédric Klapisch filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Cédric Klapisch analyses, see Chinese Puzzle, Paris and Russian Dolls.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Antetokounmpo family lives in poverty in Athens, Greece. Charles and Vera sell goods on the street while struggling as undocumented immigrants, establishing the harsh reality of their ordinary world.
Theme
Vera tells her sons: "We keep moving forward. We are bridges." The theme of perseverance, family legacy, and being the connection between past struggles and future success is stated.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the family dynamics, Greek racism toward African immigrants, the brothers' introduction to basketball, and Charles's determination to provide for his family despite constant obstacles and police harassment.
Disruption
Giannis and Thanasis are recruited to play for a local basketball team, but face racism and skepticism. Their world disrupts as basketball becomes a potential path out of poverty, though fraught with discrimination.
Resistance
The brothers debate whether to pursue basketball seriously. Coach Takis becomes a mentor figure. The family wrestles with documentation issues, poverty, and whether to risk everything on this uncertain dream.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Giannis and Thanasis commit fully to basketball, training intensively despite mockery and hardship. They cross into a new world where basketball is no longer just a game but their family's salvation.
Mirror World
An agent approaches the family about NBA possibilities. This relationship represents the American dream and thematic promise - that bridges can lead somewhere, that their struggle has meaning beyond survival.
Premise
The brothers rise through Greek basketball leagues. Giannis's extraordinary talent emerges. The promise of the premise - watching an underdog develop superhuman skills against all odds - plays out with training montages and victories.
Midpoint
Giannis declares for the 2013 NBA Draft - a false victory. It seems like success is imminent, but he lacks citizenship papers, has no guarantee of being drafted, and the family risks everything on an uncertain future.
Opposition
Bureaucratic nightmares with Greek citizenship, NBA scouts expressing doubts about Giannis's readiness, family separation anxiety, and financial pressure intensify. The dream that seemed close becomes increasingly fragile.
Collapse
Charles dies suddenly, never seeing his sons achieve their dream. The literal death of the patriarch who sacrificed everything devastates the family and threatens to derail everything at the worst possible moment.
Crisis
The family grieves. Giannis processes whether to continue or abandon the draft. In darkness, he confronts whether basketball is worth it without his father, whether the bridge metaphor has meaning after such loss.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Vera reminds Giannis of Charles's belief in them and the bridge metaphor. Giannis realizes he must honor his father by completing the journey, synthesizing his father's sacrifice with his own gifts to transcend their circumstances.
Synthesis
Draft night arrives. Giannis is selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. The family reunites in America. Epilogue text reveals Giannis's NBA championship and MVP awards, completing the impossible journey from Athens streets to NBA legend.
Transformation
Final images show the real Antetokounmpo family thriving, Giannis as an NBA superstar. The closing mirrors the opening poverty but transforms it - they became the bridge from suffering to triumph, proving the theme true.