The Little Hours
On the run from the battle-seasoned Lord Bruno for sleeping with his wife, the handsome and willing servant, Massetto, flees to the safety of the woods during the warm and peaceful summer of 1347. There, after a chance encounter with the always boozy but merciful Father Tommasso, the young charmer will find refuge into his convent's sanctuary, on one condition: to pretend he is a deaf-mute. However, Massetto's tempting presence will unavoidably upset the already frail balance of things within the sexually-repressed female realm, as nun after nun desperately seeks an escape from their tedious way of life and an extra reason to molest the charming handyman. In the end, will those cloistered Sisters finally find out what they had been missing out on all these years?
The film earned $1.6M at the global box office.
1 win & 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 Little Hours (2017) exhibits meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Jeff Baena's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Massetto flees through the woods after being caught in bed with his master's wife, establishing the chaotic, lustful world of medieval Italy.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Massetto arrives at the convent seeking refuge. Father Tommasso agrees to hide him as a deaf-mute gardener, introducing a masculine presence into the all-female environment.. At 11% 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 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Sister Alessandra seduces Massetto in the stables, believing he cannot speak or hear. Massetto actively chooses to maintain his ruse and engage with the nuns' advances., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The nuns discover each other's affairs with Massetto. False defeat: their shared secret is exposed to one another, raising stakes and creating new alliances and conflicts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Massetto's deception is fully revealed when he speaks, shattering the fantasy. The nuns' world collapses as they realize they've been manipulated. Accusations of witchcraft emerge., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The nuns and Massetto find a path forward through their shared complicity. They synthesize a plan to escape consequences by blaming external forces (witchcraft, possession) rather than taking responsibility., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Little Hours'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 Little Hours against these established plot points, we can identify how Jeff Baena utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Little Hours within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Massetto flees through the woods after being caught in bed with his master's wife, establishing the chaotic, lustful world of medieval Italy.
Theme
Father Tommasso discusses the nature of sin and temptation at the convent, foreshadowing the central conflict between religious vows and human desire.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the convent and its inhabitants: the cruel Sister Alessandra, anxious Sister Fernanda, and naive Sister Ginerva. The nuns' frustration with their servant boy and their repressed desires are established.
Disruption
Massetto arrives at the convent seeking refuge. Father Tommasso agrees to hide him as a deaf-mute gardener, introducing a masculine presence into the all-female environment.
Resistance
Massetto settles into convent life, learning to navigate the nuns' volatile moods while maintaining his disguise. The nuns debate their feelings and temptations. Sexual tension builds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sister Alessandra seduces Massetto in the stables, believing he cannot speak or hear. Massetto actively chooses to maintain his ruse and engage with the nuns' advances.
Mirror World
Sister Ginerva begins her own relationship with Massetto, representing innocence corrupted. Her subplot mirrors the theme of desire versus religious obligation.
Premise
The promise of the premise: a comedy of escalating sexual chaos as each nun pursues Massetto while believing he's deaf and mute. Massetto juggles multiple secret affairs while the nuns remain oblivious to each other.
Midpoint
The nuns discover each other's affairs with Massetto. False defeat: their shared secret is exposed to one another, raising stakes and creating new alliances and conflicts.
Opposition
Conflict intensifies as the nuns compete for Massetto's attention. Sister Marea becomes suspicious. Lord Bruno's investigation threatens exposure. The arrival of the witch and Bishop Bartolomeo increases external pressure.
Collapse
Massetto's deception is fully revealed when he speaks, shattering the fantasy. The nuns' world collapses as they realize they've been manipulated. Accusations of witchcraft emerge.
Crisis
The dark night: the convent descends into chaos. The nuns must confront their choices and the consequences of their desires. Accusations fly and medieval justice looms.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The nuns and Massetto find a path forward through their shared complicity. They synthesize a plan to escape consequences by blaming external forces (witchcraft, possession) rather than taking responsibility.
Synthesis
The finale unfolds with comedic resolution: the witch is burned, order is "restored" to the convent, and the characters escape serious punishment through medieval logic and religious hypocrisy.
Transformation
The closing image shows the convent returned to apparent normalcy, but the nuns are fundamentally unchanged - they've learned to better navigate the gap between religious expectation and human desire.