The Tuche Family: The American Dream
The Tuches' youngest son, Donald, goes to the United States to study. The rest of the family decides to pay him a surprise visit for his birthday but things do not go the way they planned...
Despite its modest budget of $8.5M, The Tuche Family: The American Dream became a commercial success, earning $35.2M worldwide—a 314% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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 Tuche Family: The American Dream (2016) exemplifies meticulously timed plot construction, 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 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Tuche family lives their simple, working-class life in Bouzolles, France. Jeff Tuche runs his unemployment office routine while the family enjoys their unpretentious lifestyle, showing who they are before their world changes.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when The Tuche family receives an extraordinary invitation: they are mistaken for relatives of the President of the United States and invited to the White House, disrupting their ordinary French life with an impossible opportunity.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The Tuche family boards the plane to America, actively choosing to leave their comfortable French life behind and enter the unfamiliar world of American politics and high society., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: The Tuche family appears to be succeeding in American society, gaining acceptance and recognition. They seem to be living the American Dream, but the stakes raise as they must choose between their authentic selves and their new image., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The family's true identity is exposed or they face a major humiliation that threatens their place in American society. Their dream collapses, and they face rejection or ridicule - a symbolic death of their American aspirations., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The family realizes that their authentic, unpretentious nature is their strength, not their weakness. They synthesize their French values with what they've learned in America, choosing to be themselves proudly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Tuche Family: The American Dream'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 Tuche Family: The American Dream 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 Tuche Family: The American Dream 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 Tuche Family: The American Dream takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. 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 and The Italian.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Tuche family lives their simple, working-class life in Bouzolles, France. Jeff Tuche runs his unemployment office routine while the family enjoys their unpretentious lifestyle, showing who they are before their world changes.
Theme
A character remarks on the contrast between staying true to oneself versus trying to fit into a world that isn't yours - the central thematic question about authenticity versus assimilation that will drive the story.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Tuche family dynamics, their relationships, their simple French lifestyle, and their contentment with their modest means. We meet the family members and understand their values and quirks.
Disruption
The Tuche family receives an extraordinary invitation: they are mistaken for relatives of the President of the United States and invited to the White House, disrupting their ordinary French life with an impossible opportunity.
Resistance
The family debates whether to accept the invitation. They discuss the implications, prepare for the journey, and navigate their doubts about fitting into American high society while being coached on how to behave.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Tuche family boards the plane to America, actively choosing to leave their comfortable French life behind and enter the unfamiliar world of American politics and high society.
Mirror World
The family encounters American culture and diplomatic circles - a mirror world that reflects and challenges their French working-class values, introducing relationships that will teach them about authenticity versus pretense.
Premise
Fish-out-of-water comedy as the Tuche family navigates Washington D.C., the White House, and American high society. Cultural clashes, misunderstandings, and the family's authentic charm create comic situations while they try to fit in.
Midpoint
False victory: The Tuche family appears to be succeeding in American society, gaining acceptance and recognition. They seem to be living the American Dream, but the stakes raise as they must choose between their authentic selves and their new image.
Opposition
The pressure of maintaining their facade intensifies. Their true working-class nature clashes with expectations. The family begins to fracture as members are pulled between authenticity and assimilation. Opposition from skeptical Americans and their own insecurities mount.
Collapse
The family's true identity is exposed or they face a major humiliation that threatens their place in American society. Their dream collapses, and they face rejection or ridicule - a symbolic death of their American aspirations.
Crisis
The family confronts their failure and questions whether they should have ever tried to be something they're not. Dark night of doubt where they process the loss and consider returning to France in defeat.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The family realizes that their authentic, unpretentious nature is their strength, not their weakness. They synthesize their French values with what they've learned in America, choosing to be themselves proudly.
Synthesis
The finale where the Tuche family confronts their critics and situation with authentic charm and working-class wisdom. They resolve conflicts by being true to themselves, winning over Americans not by pretending but by being genuine.
Transformation
The closing image shows the Tuche family, transformed not into Americans but into confident versions of themselves. They've learned that authenticity transcends culture, mirroring the opening but showing growth in self-acceptance.