The Connection
A French police magistrate spends years trying to take down one of the country's most powerful drug rings.
The film box office disappointment against its mid-range budget of $26.0M, earning $12.1M globally (-54% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the action genre.
2 wins & 5 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%)
The Connection (2014) exemplifies carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Cédric Jimenez's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 15 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Pierre Michel arrives in Marseille with his family, an ambitious magistrate ready to take on a new assignment in a city he doesn't yet understand is controlled by organized crime.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Pierre is assigned to investigate the French Connection drug network and realizes the massive scale of corruption and violence he's up against, transforming what he thought would be routine work into a dangerous crusade.. 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Pierre makes the active choice to fully commit to taking down the French Connection, assembling his team and publicly declaring his intention to dismantle Zampa's organization despite warnings and threats., moving from reaction to action.
At 68 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Pierre achieves a major victory with significant arrests and drug seizures, appearing to gain the upper hand against the French Connection, but this false victory makes him a marked man and escalates Zampa's retaliation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pierre's key witness is murdered and his family life completely disintegrates as his wife takes their children and leaves him, unable to bear the danger and his obsession. Pierre is alone, having lost everything personal for his mission., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 108 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Pierre receives crucial intelligence that gives him a final chance to bring down Zampa. He realizes he must finish what he started, synthesizing his legal expertise with street-level tactics to strike a decisive blow., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Connection'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 Connection against these established plot points, we can identify how Cédric Jimenez utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Connection within the action genre.
Cédric Jimenez's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Cédric Jimenez films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Connection takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Cédric Jimenez filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Cédric Jimenez analyses, see November, The Man with the Iron Heart.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Pierre Michel arrives in Marseille with his family, an ambitious magistrate ready to take on a new assignment in a city he doesn't yet understand is controlled by organized crime.
Theme
A colleague warns Pierre that "in Marseille, everyone has their hand in the pot" - establishing the theme of systemic corruption and the personal cost of fighting it alone.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to 1970s Marseille, the sprawling French Connection heroin operation run by Gaëtan "Tany" Zampa, the corrupt police and officials on his payroll, and Pierre's family life as he settles into his new role.
Disruption
Pierre is assigned to investigate the French Connection drug network and realizes the massive scale of corruption and violence he's up against, transforming what he thought would be routine work into a dangerous crusade.
Resistance
Pierre debates whether to take on such a powerful enemy, consults with his wife about the dangers, and begins building his case while learning about Zampa's vast criminal empire and political protection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Pierre makes the active choice to fully commit to taking down the French Connection, assembling his team and publicly declaring his intention to dismantle Zampa's organization despite warnings and threats.
Mirror World
Pierre's relationship with his wife Jacqueline deepens as she becomes his emotional anchor and moral compass, representing the normal family life he's sacrificing for his crusade against corruption.
Premise
The cat-and-mouse game between Pierre and Zampa intensifies as Pierre scores early victories with arrests and seizures, experiencing the thrill of the investigation while Zampa maintains his power through violence and corruption.
Midpoint
Pierre achieves a major victory with significant arrests and drug seizures, appearing to gain the upper hand against the French Connection, but this false victory makes him a marked man and escalates Zampa's retaliation.
Opposition
Zampa strikes back viciously - Pierre's team members are threatened and killed, his family is endangered, political pressure mounts to stop the investigation, and Pierre becomes increasingly isolated and obsessed.
Collapse
Pierre's key witness is murdered and his family life completely disintegrates as his wife takes their children and leaves him, unable to bear the danger and his obsession. Pierre is alone, having lost everything personal for his mission.
Crisis
Pierre spirals into darkness, questioning whether his crusade was worth destroying his family and the lives lost. He processes the devastating cost of his choices and contemplates giving up.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Pierre receives crucial intelligence that gives him a final chance to bring down Zampa. He realizes he must finish what he started, synthesizing his legal expertise with street-level tactics to strike a decisive blow.
Synthesis
Pierre orchestrates the final operation leading to Zampa's arrest and the dismantling of the French Connection network, achieving his goal but at tremendous personal cost, reflecting on victory and sacrifice.
Transformation
Pierre stands alone in his empty apartment, victorious but hollow. The closing titles reveal he was assassinated a year later. He succeeded in his mission but lost his family and ultimately his life - a pyrrhic victory.