Six Degrees of Separation
New Yorkers Louisa "Ouisa" Kittredge (Stockard Channing) and John Flanders "Flan" Kittredge (Donald Sutherland) are upper-class private art dealers, pretentious, but compassionate. Their prized possession is a double-sided Kandinsky: one side represents control; the other, chaos. They relay a story to their friends and acquaintances that becomes legendary over time: their encounter with a young black stranger who came stumbling upon their front door one evening as they were courting Geoffrey Miller (Sir Ian McKellen), an important investor who could make them wealthy beyond their dreams. The young man, Paul Poitier (Will Smith), had just arrived in the city when he was mugged outside their building, he sported a minor knife wound to the abdomen. He was a friend of the Kittredges' children, who are attending Harvard; more importantly, he's the son of actor and Director Sidney Poitier. Tomorrow, Paul is meeting up with his father, who is in town directing a movie of "Cats". Beyond the attraction of talking Paul into getting them roles in the movie, Ouisa, Flan, and Geoffrey all end up being captivated by Paul's charm, charisma, pedigree, and eloquence. After tending to his wounds, the Kittredges invite him to stay the night. Their encounter with him ends up being an all-too-familiar story that leads them on a search for him after he leaves their house the next morning. In that search, Ouisa in particularly starts to critically study their lives and how much compassion they actually have.
The film financial setback against its moderate budget of $15.0M, earning $6.3M globally (-58% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unconventional structure within the comedy genre.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 6 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%)
Six Degrees of Separation (1993) exhibits carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Fred Schepisi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 52 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ouisa Kittredge addresses the audience directly, establishing her sophisticated Upper East Side life with husband Flan, surrounded by art and privilege. She introduces their world of wealth, culture, and social climbing.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Paul, a young Black man claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son and a friend of their children from Harvard, arrives bleeding at their door after being mugged in Central Park. He charms them with intelligence, cooking skills, and insider knowledge of their kids.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ouisa discovers Paul in bed with a male hustler in their home. The illusion shatters violently. Paul flees, and the Kittredges must confront what happened. They choose to investigate who Paul really is, launching them into a new reality., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat They discover the source: a young man named Trent Conway, whose parents are in the address book Paul stole. Trent reveals he taught Paul everything - their mannerisms, their children's names, their lives - as a cruel private school prank. The betrayal has a face., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Paul calls Ouisa from jail, desperate and suicidal. She promises to help him but hesitates, seeking Flan's approval first. In that moment of hesitation, Paul hangs up. Later, they learn a young man matching Paul's description has killed himself. The "whiff of death" is literal., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ouisa has a realization: Paul gave them more than he took. He brought imagination, danger, and genuine feeling into their calculated lives. She sees that the six degrees of separation means we're responsible for each other, that every connection matters, even with a con man., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Six Degrees of Separation's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Six Degrees of Separation against these established plot points, we can identify how Fred Schepisi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Six Degrees of Separation within the comedy genre.
Fred Schepisi's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Fred Schepisi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Six Degrees of Separation takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Fred Schepisi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Fred Schepisi analyses, see Mr. Baseball, Roxanne and The Russia House.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ouisa Kittredge addresses the audience directly, establishing her sophisticated Upper East Side life with husband Flan, surrounded by art and privilege. She introduces their world of wealth, culture, and social climbing.
Theme
Ouisa discusses the six degrees of separation theory - that everyone is connected by six people. This concept becomes the thematic backbone exploring connection, identity, and the illusion of control in our relationships.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Kittredges' world: their art dealing business, their relationship with wealthy South African investor Geoffrey, their adult children, and their carefully curated social status. They're negotiating a major deal for a Cezanne painting.
Disruption
Paul, a young Black man claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son and a friend of their children from Harvard, arrives bleeding at their door after being mugged in Central Park. He charms them with intelligence, cooking skills, and insider knowledge of their kids.
Resistance
Paul enchants the Kittredges and Geoffrey with his sophistication, discussion of "The Catcher in the Rye," and promise of a role in his father's film of "Cats." They debate whether to fully trust him, but are seduced by his charm and the social cachet of knowing Sidney Poitier's son.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ouisa discovers Paul in bed with a male hustler in their home. The illusion shatters violently. Paul flees, and the Kittredges must confront what happened. They choose to investigate who Paul really is, launching them into a new reality.
Mirror World
The Kittredges discover other wealthy families were also conned by Paul with the same story. They meet and compare experiences, forming a community of victims. These parallel stories mirror their own gullibility and reveal the pattern of Paul's deception.
Premise
The investigation into Paul's identity unfolds. The Kittredges retell their story at dinner parties, gaining social currency from the experience. Ouisa becomes increasingly obsessed with understanding Paul, while other victims emerge with similar tales. The con becomes performance art.
Midpoint
They discover the source: a young man named Trent Conway, whose parents are in the address book Paul stole. Trent reveals he taught Paul everything - their mannerisms, their children's names, their lives - as a cruel private school prank. The betrayal has a face.
Opposition
Paul resurfaces, arrested after another con goes wrong. A victim has been hurt. Ouisa tries to help Paul while Flan wants to prosecute. Their marriage strains under different responses to Paul. Ouisa's empathy clashes with society's need for punishment and her husband's need for order.
Collapse
Paul calls Ouisa from jail, desperate and suicidal. She promises to help him but hesitates, seeking Flan's approval first. In that moment of hesitation, Paul hangs up. Later, they learn a young man matching Paul's description has killed himself. The "whiff of death" is literal.
Crisis
Ouisa spirals into guilt and existential crisis. She realizes she treated Paul as an anecdote, a story to tell at parties, rather than as a real person who needed help. She questions her entire life, her values, and her failure to truly connect with another human being.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ouisa has a realization: Paul gave them more than he took. He brought imagination, danger, and genuine feeling into their calculated lives. She sees that the six degrees of separation means we're responsible for each other, that every connection matters, even with a con man.
Synthesis
Ouisa tries to articulate her transformation to Flan, who cannot understand her attachment to Paul. Their marriage reveals its emptiness - they are connected by only two degrees, yet deeply separated. The Cezanne deal closes successfully, but it rings hollow. Ouisa is forever changed.
Transformation
Ouisa, alone, reflects on the experience. She now understands that imagination, empathy, and genuine human connection matter more than social status or wealth. The Paul who conned them was more real than their authentic selves. She has been awakened but must live in a world that hasn't.