Welcome Mr. President!
A Mr. Nobody is mistakenly elected President of the Italian Republic.
The film earned $9.5M 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%)
Welcome Mr. President! (2013) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Riccardo Milani's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 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 Giuseppe Garibaldi works as a humble librarian in a small mountain town, living a quiet, anonymous life far from politics and power.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Political parties, unable to agree on a candidate, accidentally select Giuseppe Garibaldi - mistaking the librarian for a harmless compromise candidate due to his famous patriotic name.. 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 Giuseppe decides to accept the presidency, choosing to enter the political world with the intention of bringing honesty and common sense to government., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Giuseppe's honest approach leads to a surprising victory - he successfully blocks a corrupt law. He appears to be winning, but this raises the stakes as powerful interests now see him as a threat., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Giuseppe is betrayed by those he trusted. A scandal erupts that threatens to destroy his reputation. His dream of honest politics appears dead, and he prepares to resign in disgrace., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Janis reveals evidence that proves Giuseppe's innocence and exposes the real corruption. Giuseppe realizes he can use his position for one final act of integrity, combining his outsider perspective with what he's learned about the system., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Welcome Mr. President!'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 Welcome Mr. President! against these established plot points, we can identify how Riccardo Milani utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Welcome Mr. President! within the comedy genre.
Riccardo Milani's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Riccardo Milani films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Welcome Mr. President! exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Riccardo Milani filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Riccardo Milani analyses, see Don't Stop Me Now, A World Apart.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Giuseppe Garibaldi works as a humble librarian in a small mountain town, living a quiet, anonymous life far from politics and power.
Theme
A patron comments that "honest people never go into politics" - establishing the film's central theme about integrity versus political corruption.
Worldbuilding
Giuseppe's simple life is established: his library work, his relationship with his community, and his complete disconnection from the political chaos in Rome. Meanwhile, Italy faces a governmental crisis with no viable presidential candidates.
Disruption
Political parties, unable to agree on a candidate, accidentally select Giuseppe Garibaldi - mistaking the librarian for a harmless compromise candidate due to his famous patriotic name.
Resistance
Giuseppe resists the absurd appointment, debating whether to accept. Political handlers arrive to prepare him, while he questions if an honest man can survive in politics. His community encourages him to represent ordinary Italians.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Giuseppe decides to accept the presidency, choosing to enter the political world with the intention of bringing honesty and common sense to government.
Mirror World
Giuseppe meets Janis, a young idealistic aide who believes in his potential to change the system. She represents the thematic hope that integrity can survive in corrupt institutions.
Premise
The "fish out of water" fun: Giuseppe navigates the absurdities of Italian politics with honesty and naivety, accidentally making decisions that help ordinary people while horrifying the political establishment.
Midpoint
Giuseppe's honest approach leads to a surprising victory - he successfully blocks a corrupt law. He appears to be winning, but this raises the stakes as powerful interests now see him as a threat.
Opposition
Political and corporate forces unite against Giuseppe. They exploit his mistakes, manipulate the media against him, and pressure him to conform. His idealism becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
Collapse
Giuseppe is betrayed by those he trusted. A scandal erupts that threatens to destroy his reputation. His dream of honest politics appears dead, and he prepares to resign in disgrace.
Crisis
Giuseppe struggles with the realization that the system may be too corrupt to change. He questions whether his presence made any difference at all.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Janis reveals evidence that proves Giuseppe's innocence and exposes the real corruption. Giuseppe realizes he can use his position for one final act of integrity, combining his outsider perspective with what he's learned about the system.
Synthesis
Giuseppe confronts the corrupt establishment in a climactic public address, exposing the truth and using his constitutional powers to initiate real reform before stepping down on his own terms.
Transformation
Giuseppe returns to his library, but he is transformed - no longer anonymous or powerless. The final image shows ordinary Italians inspired by his example, suggesting that one honest person can make a difference.