The Borgia
Italy, 15th century. Rodrigo Borgia is a cunning schemer. For thirty years he has worked himself up in the Roman Catholic Church and now has been elected as pope by the college of cardinals. Borgia hasn't any religious motives though, it's all about power for him. With his papal power he starts a reign of terror, eliminating rivals. A new age will start for the Borgia family, he thinks and his four children are the most important pawns. His beautiful daughter Lucrezia and passive son Jofré are married off to tighten bonds with rival families. The same goes for Juan, who is also made captain of the Vatican army. Rodrigo's firstborn Cesare is now cardinal. He doesn't like it all. As the born fighter of the family, he sees himself most fit in the position of Juan. Cesare gets increasingly dissatisfied as cardinal and is more and more agitated by his family. Then Juan suddenly dies after an assault.
The film earned $8.5M 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%)
The Borgia (2006) exemplifies deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Antonio Hernández's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours. 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 Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia is a powerful but corrupt church official in Renaissance Rome, using wealth and influence to advance his family's position.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Pope Innocent VIII dies, creating a power vacuum. Rodrigo sees his opportunity to become Pope through bribery and manipulation of the conclave.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Rodrigo is elected Pope Alexander VI. He actively chooses to embrace absolute power, transforming from corrupt cardinal to the most powerful man in Christendom., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat A false victory: The Borgias appear invincible, but the French invasion of Italy reveals their vulnerability. Former allies turn against them, and the family's moral corruption begins to fracture their unity., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pope Alexander VI dies suddenly, possibly poisoned. The family's power dies with him, and Cesare realizes that everything they built was built on sand., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Cesare realizes that power gained through corruption cannot be sustained. He attempts one final gambit to preserve the family legacy, but with a new understanding of their fatal flaws., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Borgia'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 The Borgia against these established plot points, we can identify how Antonio Hernández utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Borgia within the biography genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include Lords of Dogtown, Ip Man 2 and A Complete Unknown.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia is a powerful but corrupt church official in Renaissance Rome, using wealth and influence to advance his family's position.
Theme
A fellow cardinal warns that "power without virtue corrupts absolutely," foreshadowing the moral decay that will consume the Borgia family.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the political intrigue of the Vatican, the Borgia family dynamics, Rodrigo's children Cesare and Lucrezia, and the web of alliances and rivalries among Italian noble families.
Disruption
Pope Innocent VIII dies, creating a power vacuum. Rodrigo sees his opportunity to become Pope through bribery and manipulation of the conclave.
Resistance
Rodrigo navigates the papal election, bribing cardinals and making strategic promises. His children debate whether the papacy will elevate or destroy their family.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rodrigo is elected Pope Alexander VI. He actively chooses to embrace absolute power, transforming from corrupt cardinal to the most powerful man in Christendom.
Mirror World
Lucrezia's arranged marriage introduces the thematic counterpoint of love versus political utility, showing the human cost of the Borgia's ruthless ambition.
Premise
The Borgias consolidate papal power through strategic marriages, military campaigns, and eliminating rivals. Cesare emerges as his father's enforcer, while the family revels in their newfound dominance.
Midpoint
A false victory: The Borgias appear invincible, but the French invasion of Italy reveals their vulnerability. Former allies turn against them, and the family's moral corruption begins to fracture their unity.
Opposition
Rival families unite against the Borgias. Cesare's brutality escalates, Lucrezia suffers in her marriage, and internal family conflicts emerge as paranoia and betrayal mount.
Collapse
Pope Alexander VI dies suddenly, possibly poisoned. The family's power dies with him, and Cesare realizes that everything they built was built on sand.
Crisis
The Borgia children face the darkness of their choices. Cesare grapples with losing everything, while Lucrezia confronts the emotional devastation wrought by her family's ambition.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Cesare realizes that power gained through corruption cannot be sustained. He attempts one final gambit to preserve the family legacy, but with a new understanding of their fatal flaws.
Synthesis
The Borgia empire crumbles. Cesare is arrested and exiled, Lucrezia retreats into isolation, and their enemies reclaim power. The family's name becomes synonymous with corruption and moral decay.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: the Vatican remains, but the Borgias are gone. A new cardinal ascends, suggesting the cycle of corruption will continue. Power remains; the people who sought it are dust.