The Borrowers
The four-inch-tall Clock family secretly share a house with the normal-sized Lender family, "borrowing" such items as thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. However, their peaceful co-existence is disturbed when evil lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will granting title to the house, which he plans to demolish in order to build apartments. The Lenders are forced to move, and the Clocks face the risk of being exposed to the normal-sized world.
The film underperformed commercially against its respectable budget of $29.0M, earning $22.6M globally (-22% loss).
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 Borrowers (1997) exhibits strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Peter Hewitt's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.9, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Clock family (tiny Borrowers) live secretly beneath the floorboards of the Lender family home, "borrowing" items to survive. Young Arrietty Clock longs to explore the world above.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Arrietty is spotted by the human boy Pete Lender during her first borrowing expedition. The fundamental rule of Borrower survival has been broken, threatening the family's safety.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The Clocks decide to trust Pete and stay in the house, choosing to work with a human for the first time. Arrietty makes an active choice to continue the friendship, crossing into a new world of human-Borrower cooperation., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Potter discovers the Borrowers' existence definitively and sets traps to capture them. What seemed like a safe friendship with Pete now becomes dangerous as the adult human world threatens them. False defeat: the stakes raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Potter successfully captures the entire Clock family in glass jars, planning to exhibit them for profit. The Borrowers' worst fear is realized - trapped, displayed, their freedom and dignity stripped away. The dream of peaceful coexistence appears dead., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Pete discovers where Potter has hidden the Borrowers. The synthesis moment: combining Pete's human abilities with the Borrowers' ingenuity and courage, they formulate an escape and counter-plan. The human-Borrower alliance becomes their strength., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Borrowers's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Borrowers against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Hewitt utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Borrowers within the adventure genre.
Peter Hewitt's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Peter Hewitt films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.6, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Borrowers represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Hewitt filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys. For more Peter Hewitt analyses, see Zoom, Tom and Huck and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Clock family (tiny Borrowers) live secretly beneath the floorboards of the Lender family home, "borrowing" items to survive. Young Arrietty Clock longs to explore the world above.
Theme
Pod Clock tells Arrietty that Borrowers must never be seen by humans - "We're Borrowers, not thieves. We take what we need to survive." The theme of coexistence and finding one's place in a larger world is established.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Clock family's elaborate miniature world beneath the floors. Pod teaches Arrietty the rules of borrowing. The Lender family faces financial troubles. Lawyer Ocious P. Potter schemes to acquire the house.
Disruption
Arrietty is spotted by the human boy Pete Lender during her first borrowing expedition. The fundamental rule of Borrower survival has been broken, threatening the family's safety.
Resistance
Pod and Homily debate whether they must flee immediately. Arrietty secretly develops a friendship with Pete, who proves trustworthy. The family weighs the risks of staying versus leaving their home. Potter's schemes intensify.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Clocks decide to trust Pete and stay in the house, choosing to work with a human for the first time. Arrietty makes an active choice to continue the friendship, crossing into a new world of human-Borrower cooperation.
Mirror World
Pete and Arrietty's friendship deepens. Pete represents the thematic mirror - a human who sees Borrowers as equals. Their bond teaches both about trust across differences and finding courage.
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching tiny Borrowers navigate the giant human world with Pete's help. Adventures ensue as they work together. Meanwhile, Potter discovers evidence of the Borrowers and plots to capture them for profit.
Midpoint
Potter discovers the Borrowers' existence definitively and sets traps to capture them. What seemed like a safe friendship with Pete now becomes dangerous as the adult human world threatens them. False defeat: the stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
Potter escalates his efforts to catch the Borrowers, setting elaborate traps. The Clocks must evade capture while Potter uses their existence to further his scheme to take the house. The family's flaws and fears are tested as danger closes in.
Collapse
Potter successfully captures the entire Clock family in glass jars, planning to exhibit them for profit. The Borrowers' worst fear is realized - trapped, displayed, their freedom and dignity stripped away. The dream of peaceful coexistence appears dead.
Crisis
The Clocks sit imprisoned, processing their apparent defeat. Homily despairs about their fate. Pod and Arrietty face their darkest moment, believing they've lost everything - home, freedom, and dignity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Pete discovers where Potter has hidden the Borrowers. The synthesis moment: combining Pete's human abilities with the Borrowers' ingenuity and courage, they formulate an escape and counter-plan. The human-Borrower alliance becomes their strength.
Synthesis
The finale: Pete helps free the Borrowers. Together they expose Potter's schemes and save the Lender house. The Borrowers use their skills in creative ways. The final confrontation proves humans and Borrowers can work as allies. Potter is defeated.
Transformation
The Clocks return to their home beneath the floorboards, but transformed. They now live openly with the Lenders' knowledge and blessing. Arrietty has grown brave, the family has found acceptance, and peaceful coexistence is achieved. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows growth.