Take This Waltz
Twenty-eight-year-old Margot is happily married to Lou, a good-natured cookbook author. But when Margot meets Daniel, a handsome artist who lives across the street, their mutual attraction is undeniable.
The film earned $5.0M 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%)
Take This Waltz (2011) reveals meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Sarah Polley's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 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 Margot playfully interacts with strangers in Nova Scotia, showing her whimsical nature and restless spirit within the safety of her comfortable marriage to Lou.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Margot discovers that Daniel, the attractive man she met on the plane and felt instant chemistry with, lives directly across the street from her. The possibility of connection invades her stable 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.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Margot chooses to actively pursue a connection with Daniel, meeting him deliberately and beginning an emotional affair, crossing the line from fantasy into action., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 48% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat At the public pool, Margot sees Daniel with another woman and realizes she must make a choice. The fantasy can't coexist with reality forever. Stakes are raised - she can't have both lives., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Margot confesses to Lou that she's leaving him for Daniel. Lou is devastated. The death of the marriage, the death of innocence, and the death of the safe life she knew., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Margot fully commits to her new life with Daniel, consummating their relationship and moving into the passionate existence she craved. She believes she's found what was missing., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Take This Waltz'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 Take This Waltz against these established plot points, we can identify how Sarah Polley utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Take This Waltz within the drama genre.
Sarah Polley's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Sarah Polley films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Take This Waltz takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sarah Polley filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Sarah Polley analyses, see Away from Her, Women Talking.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Margot playfully interacts with strangers in Nova Scotia, showing her whimsical nature and restless spirit within the safety of her comfortable marriage to Lou.
Theme
On the plane home, a woman tells Margot about connections and missed opportunities, hinting at the central question: What happens when comfort becomes a prison?
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Margot and Lou's established routine: their comfortable home, Lou's obsessive cookbook writing about chicken, their affectionate but passionless marriage, and the predictable rhythms of their Toronto life.
Disruption
Margot discovers that Daniel, the attractive man she met on the plane and felt instant chemistry with, lives directly across the street from her. The possibility of connection invades her stable world.
Resistance
Margot resists but is drawn to Daniel. She confides in her alcoholic sister-in-law Geraldine, witnesses Lou's devotion, and debates internally whether to pursue her attraction or honor her marriage vows.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Margot chooses to actively pursue a connection with Daniel, meeting him deliberately and beginning an emotional affair, crossing the line from fantasy into action.
Mirror World
Daniel takes Margot on a rickshaw ride through Toronto, describing in vivid detail what making love to her would be like. This relationship represents passion, danger, and the life unlived.
Premise
Margot explores the intoxicating pull of her connection to Daniel while maintaining the facade of her marriage. Stolen moments, near-encounters, and the exquisite tension of unconsummated desire.
Midpoint
At the public pool, Margot sees Daniel with another woman and realizes she must make a choice. The fantasy can't coexist with reality forever. Stakes are raised - she can't have both lives.
Opposition
The affair intensifies emotionally. Margot becomes increasingly distant from Lou. Geraldine challenges her choices. The weight of deception grows heavier. Lou's kindness becomes unbearable rather than comforting.
Collapse
Margot confesses to Lou that she's leaving him for Daniel. Lou is devastated. The death of the marriage, the death of innocence, and the death of the safe life she knew.
Crisis
Margot processes the pain she's caused and the finality of her choice. She moves out, beginning her new life with Daniel while carrying the weight of what she's destroyed.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Margot fully commits to her new life with Daniel, consummating their relationship and moving into the passionate existence she craved. She believes she's found what was missing.
Synthesis
Time passes. Margot and Daniel's relationship settles into routine. The passion becomes familiar. She realizes that she's recreated the same pattern - a new life that becomes ordinary.
Transformation
At the public pool, Margot experiences a moment of profound emptiness. She got what she wanted but lost who she was. The closing image mirrors the opening - she's still searching, still restless, having learned that geography doesn't cure spiritual wandering.