The Italian
Dino Fabrizzi is the number one seller of the Maserati dealership in Nice. At 42, he arrives at a turning point in his life, the position of director is openly proposed and his companion for a year, Helen, has the firm intention to marry her. For Dino, life is great, except that this perfect life was built on a lie. Dino is actually called Mourad Ben Saoud. Neither his boss nor Helen and even less his parents are aware of this false identity. In ten days begins Ramadan and Mourad who passes every year will this time assume the promise made to his sick father. Taking part in Ramadan, For Dino - the Italian - it will not be easy.
The film earned $11.1M 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 Italian (2010) demonstrates precise story structure, characteristic of Olivier Baroux's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening image of Vanya in the bleak Russian orphanage, establishing his ordinary world of institutional life, lack of agency, and yearning for family.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The Italian couple arrives to adopt Vanya, offering him the dream of escape to a better life in Italy - disrupting his acceptance of orphanage existence.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Vanya makes the active choice to escape the orphanage and search for his biological mother before leaving for Italy - entering the "adventure world" of his quest., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Vanya gets significant information about his mother's location or circumstances - a false victory that seems promising but raises stakes and reveals the journey will be harder than expected., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Vanya either finds his mother and she rejects him, or discovers devastating truth about why she abandoned him - the death of his dream of maternal reunion and belonging., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Vanya synthesizes what he's learned: family is not just blood, but choice and love. He gains clarity about what truly matters and makes peace with his identity as an orphan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Italian's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Italian against these established plot points, we can identify how Olivier Baroux utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Italian within the comedy genre.
Olivier Baroux's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Olivier Baroux films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Italian represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Olivier Baroux filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Olivier Baroux analyses, see Christmas with the Tuches, The Tuche Family: The American Dream and The Tuche Family.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening image of Vanya in the bleak Russian orphanage, establishing his ordinary world of institutional life, lack of agency, and yearning for family.
Theme
A character (orphanage worker or fellow orphan) speaks about what makes a real mother or real family - stating the film's central question about blood vs. chosen family.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of orphanage life, Vanya's relationships with other children, the harsh conditions, introduction of caretakers, and the system of international adoptions.
Disruption
The Italian couple arrives to adopt Vanya, offering him the dream of escape to a better life in Italy - disrupting his acceptance of orphanage existence.
Resistance
Vanya prepares for adoption and learns he has a birth mother who abandoned him. He debates whether to pursue this knowledge or accept his new Italian family. Internal conflict builds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Vanya makes the active choice to escape the orphanage and search for his biological mother before leaving for Italy - entering the "adventure world" of his quest.
Mirror World
Vanya encounters helpers on his journey (possibly other children, kind strangers, or fellow travelers) who represent different perspectives on family and belonging.
Premise
The journey itself - Vanya navigating Russian landscape and society, encountering obstacles, experiencing both kindness and cruelty, learning about the world beyond the orphanage.
Midpoint
Vanya gets significant information about his mother's location or circumstances - a false victory that seems promising but raises stakes and reveals the journey will be harder than expected.
Opposition
The search becomes increasingly difficult. Authorities may pursue him, obstacles multiply, resources dwindle. The romantic notion of finding mother confronts harsh reality.
Collapse
Vanya either finds his mother and she rejects him, or discovers devastating truth about why she abandoned him - the death of his dream of maternal reunion and belonging.
Crisis
Vanya processes the emotional devastation of the truth. Dark night of the soul where he must reconcile his need for family with the reality of abandonment and choose his path forward.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Vanya synthesizes what he's learned: family is not just blood, but choice and love. He gains clarity about what truly matters and makes peace with his identity as an orphan.
Synthesis
Resolution of Vanya's journey - return to orphanage or decision about Italian adoption. Final confrontation with his choice about identity and belonging. Emotional closure with companions.
Transformation
Final image mirrors opening but shows Vanya transformed - no longer passively waiting for family to claim him, but understanding his own worth and agency in defining family.