The Valet
A Parisian valet loves a woman who rejects him: she's in debt to open a bookshop, and he's not her ideal man. A billionaire two-times his wealthy wife with his beautiful mistress, a young supermodel. To draw the paparazzi and his wife off the trail of adultery, and to give his lawyer time to arrange a divorce that won't cost him a fortune, the billionaire pays the supermodel and the valet to pretend for a month to be a couple. Within days, the bookshop owner and the billionaire are jealous, the supermodel experiences life with a nice guy, and the valet has status and self-confidence. What will each do with newfound wisdom?
The film earned $29.3M at the global box office.
1 win & 1 nomination
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 Valet (2006) showcases deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Francis Veber's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes François Pignon parks cars as a valet at an upscale restaurant, invisible to wealthy patrons. He's a simple, unnoticed man living a humble life in Paris.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when A paparazzi photograph captures Pierre with Elena, but François accidentally appears in the background. Pierre's wife Christine sees the photo, threatening his billion-dollar divorce settlement.. 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to François agrees to pretend to be Elena's boyfriend in exchange for money. He actively chooses to enter this world of deception and wealth, leaving his simple life behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 43 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat François and Elena attend a high-society event together where he's treated as important for the first time. False victory: he believes he's finally "somebody," but it's all built on a lie. Stakes raise as real feelings begin to develop., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 62 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The truth is exposed: Elena and François's relationship is revealed as a sham. François is publicly humiliated, losing his newfound status and respect. His dignity "dies" as he's exposed as a fraud to everyone., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 66 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. François realizes his worth doesn't come from fame or association with Elena - it comes from being himself. He synthesizes his newfound confidence with his authentic self. Elena reaches the same realization about valuing authenticity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Valet's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Valet against these established plot points, we can identify how Francis Veber utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Valet within the comedy genre.
Francis Veber's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Francis Veber films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Valet represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Francis Veber filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Francis Veber analyses, see Three Fugitives, The Dinner Game and Ruby & Quentin.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
François Pignon parks cars as a valet at an upscale restaurant, invisible to wealthy patrons. He's a simple, unnoticed man living a humble life in Paris.
Theme
François's colleague tells him "You're nobody to them" referring to the rich clients, establishing the theme of invisibility versus authentic worth.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of François's ordinary life: his job as valet, his unrequited love for supermarket worker Émilie, his modest apartment. Meanwhile, billionaire Pierre Levasseur's affair with supermodel Elena is introduced.
Disruption
A paparazzi photograph captures Pierre with Elena, but François accidentally appears in the background. Pierre's wife Christine sees the photo, threatening his billion-dollar divorce settlement.
Resistance
Pierre's lawyer Richard devises a scheme: claim Elena is actually dating the nobody in the photo (François) to deflect suspicion. They track down François and debate how to convince him to participate in this charade.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
François agrees to pretend to be Elena's boyfriend in exchange for money. He actively chooses to enter this world of deception and wealth, leaving his simple life behind.
Mirror World
Elena moves into François's modest apartment to make the ruse convincing. Their relationship begins - she represents everything he lacks (beauty, fame, confidence) but will teach him about authentic self-worth.
Premise
The fun of the premise: François navigates media attention, paparazzi, and newfound fame. Elena learns to live simply. François gains confidence, Elena sees a different world. Comic situations arise from their mismatched lives.
Midpoint
François and Elena attend a high-society event together where he's treated as important for the first time. False victory: he believes he's finally "somebody," but it's all built on a lie. Stakes raise as real feelings begin to develop.
Opposition
Complications mount: François's father and friends become suspicious. Émilie (his real crush) shows interest now that he's "famous." Pierre grows jealous seeing Elena with François. The web of lies becomes harder to maintain.
Collapse
The truth is exposed: Elena and François's relationship is revealed as a sham. François is publicly humiliated, losing his newfound status and respect. His dignity "dies" as he's exposed as a fraud to everyone.
Crisis
François returns to his old life, crushed and humiliated. He reflects on what he's lost and learned. Elena also faces her own crisis, realizing she's lost something genuine in François.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
François realizes his worth doesn't come from fame or association with Elena - it comes from being himself. He synthesizes his newfound confidence with his authentic self. Elena reaches the same realization about valuing authenticity.
Synthesis
François confronts Pierre and the situation with dignity, no longer playing the fool. He and Elena reconnect on honest terms. The finale resolves all relationships: Pierre faces consequences, François reclaims his self-respect.
Transformation
François returns to parking cars, but he carries himself differently - with quiet confidence and self-respect. He's the same person doing the same job, but transformed internally. He's no longer invisible because he sees his own worth.