The Well Digger's Daughter
Provence, the days before World War I. Rustic well-digger Pascal Amoretti, a widower, encourages fellow laborer Félipe Rambert to date his virgin eldest daughter Patricia, the only of his five who attended a Paris finishing school. Getting drunk, Felipe unwittingly helps her date wealthy general store owner Mazel's handsome, womanizing son, dashing air force pilot Jacques, who gives her a motorbike ride home, make love and get her pregnant. Shortly after, both men are called for military service. On leave, Felipe finds out the truth and still proposes. Jacques is reported missing in action, his family refuses to recognize the baby, so Pascal sends Patricia with it to his outcast sister.
The film earned $13.2M at the global box office.
2 wins
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 Well Digger's Daughter (2011) reveals deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Daniel Auteuil's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Patricia Amoretti
Pascal Amoretti
Jacques Mazel
Felipe Rambert
Madame Mazel
Main Cast & Characters
Patricia Amoretti
Played by Astrid Bergès-Frisbey
The well digger's eldest daughter who falls in love with a wealthy shop owner's son and becomes pregnant before he leaves for war.
Pascal Amoretti
Played by Daniel Auteuil
The proud well digger and devoted father who must navigate his daughter's scandal while maintaining his dignity and principles.
Jacques Mazel
Played by Nicolas Duvauchelle
The wealthy young pilot and shop owner's son who falls in love with Patricia but is sent to war before learning of her pregnancy.
Felipe Rambert
Played by Kad Merad
A wealthy shopkeeper and bachelor who offers to marry Patricia to save her reputation, despite the class difference.
Madame Mazel
Played by Sabine Azéma
Jacques' domineering mother who is horrified by her son's relationship with a lower-class girl and refuses to acknowledge the pregnancy.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Pascal Amoretti works as a well digger in the beautiful Provençal countryside, living a simple but dignified life with his six daughters. The family is established as hardworking, close-knit, and poor but content.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Jacques Mazel, home on leave from his air force service, meets Patricia Amoretti. Their attraction is immediate and powerful, disrupting Patricia's ordinary life and introducing the possibility of romance across class lines.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Patricia and Jacques consummate their relationship, fully committing to their love despite the obstacles. Patricia actively chooses to cross the social boundary and trust in their love, entering a new world of romantic possibility., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Patricia reveals her pregnancy to her father Pascal. His reaction is explosive - he feels dishonored and furious. What seemed like a private love story now becomes a public family crisis. The stakes are raised enormously; this is a false defeat as the dream of love seems shattered., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, News arrives that Jacques's plane has been shot down and he is missing in action, presumed dead. This is the "whiff of death" - the love story appears to have died, leaving Patricia alone, pregnant, and without hope of reconciliation or marriage., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Patricia gives birth to her son and embraces motherhood fully. This moment of new life provides clarity - she realizes that her love for Jacques created something beautiful, regardless of society's judgment. She finds strength in her child and her identity as a mother., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Well Digger's Daughter'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 Well Digger's Daughter against these established plot points, we can identify how Daniel Auteuil utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Well Digger's Daughter within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Pascal Amoretti works as a well digger in the beautiful Provençal countryside, living a simple but dignified life with his six daughters. The family is established as hardworking, close-knit, and poor but content.
Theme
Discussion about love, honor, and social class differences. A character remarks that true worth comes from character and love, not money or status - foreshadowing the central conflict between the well digger's family and the wealthy Mazels.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of life in 1939 Provence: Pascal's well-digging work, the dynamics between the six Amoretti sisters, particularly beautiful young Patricia. The Mazel family's shop and their higher social standing are introduced, along with their son Jacques, a handsome aviator.
Disruption
Jacques Mazel, home on leave from his air force service, meets Patricia Amoretti. Their attraction is immediate and powerful, disrupting Patricia's ordinary life and introducing the possibility of romance across class lines.
Resistance
Patricia and Jacques navigate the early stages of their romance. Patricia is hesitant about the class difference and her father's potential reaction. Jacques must soon return to military duty, creating urgency and tension about their relationship's future.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Patricia and Jacques consummate their relationship, fully committing to their love despite the obstacles. Patricia actively chooses to cross the social boundary and trust in their love, entering a new world of romantic possibility.
Mirror World
Patricia confides in one of her sisters about her feelings for Jacques and the depth of their relationship. This sisterly bond represents the theme of love and family loyalty that will be tested throughout the story.
Premise
The consequences of Patricia and Jacques's romance unfold. Jacques returns to duty, leaving Patricia behind. Patricia discovers she is pregnant. The promise of the premise - love overcoming class barriers - is explored as Patricia must navigate her pregnancy alone.
Midpoint
Patricia reveals her pregnancy to her father Pascal. His reaction is explosive - he feels dishonored and furious. What seemed like a private love story now becomes a public family crisis. The stakes are raised enormously; this is a false defeat as the dream of love seems shattered.
Opposition
Pascal confronts the Mazel family, who are shocked and initially refuse to acknowledge responsibility. The class divide becomes weaponized. Jacques is unreachable at war. Patricia faces social shame and her father's disappointment. The opposition from both families and society intensifies.
Collapse
News arrives that Jacques's plane has been shot down and he is missing in action, presumed dead. This is the "whiff of death" - the love story appears to have died, leaving Patricia alone, pregnant, and without hope of reconciliation or marriage.
Crisis
Patricia grieves the apparent loss of Jacques while preparing for single motherhood. Pascal wrestles with his anger and pride versus his love for his daughter. The family processes the dark reality of their situation and Patricia's uncertain future.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Patricia gives birth to her son and embraces motherhood fully. This moment of new life provides clarity - she realizes that her love for Jacques created something beautiful, regardless of society's judgment. She finds strength in her child and her identity as a mother.
Synthesis
Jacques is discovered alive in a hospital, suffering from amnesia. When he recovers his memory, he returns to Provence seeking Patricia. The families must face their prejudices and mistakes. Jacques claims his son and Patricia, and the class barriers finally break down as love and family prove stronger than pride.
Transformation
The Amoretti and Mazel families are united through Patricia and Jacques's marriage and their child. Pascal, once rigid about honor and class, embraces his grandson and son-in-law. The image mirrors the opening's Provençal landscape, but now the family is transformed - honor comes from love and acceptance, not social standing.