Who Am I?
Jackie Chan, a top secret militant soldier, crashes into the South African jungle after his mission of kidnapping three scientists (who were experimenting with a powerful mineral) has gone awry. Waking up in a village of local natives, Chan has no memory of who he is, thus being addressed as "Who Am I". His journey with aid from two female sidekicks to find out his identity leads him all the way to Rotterdam where he coincidentally discovers the location of the organization that kidnapped the three scientists. With no memory, Chan is thirsty for answers by any means necessary.
2 wins & 10 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%)
Who Am I? (1998) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Jackie Chan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours. 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 Jackie as a confident special forces operative on a covert mission in South Africa, establishing his identity as an elite soldier with a clear sense of purpose and belonging.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Betrayal: Jackie's own team attempts to kill him in a helicopter crash to eliminate witnesses. The crash leaves him stranded in the African wilderness with complete amnesia.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jackie makes the active choice to leave the safety of the village and journey to civilization to discover his true identity, despite having no memory or resources., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Jackie discovers evidence of his military past and realizes he was part of the mission that stole the energy device, but also that someone powerful wants him dead. The stakes escalate as enemies close in., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jackie is captured by the conspirators. His allies are threatened. The whiff of death: he faces execution and the complete loss of ever knowing who he truly is or was., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 95 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Jackie realizes his amnesia is a gift: he can choose his identity. He synthesizes his combat skills with his new values of trust and friendship, breaking free to stop the conspiracy., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Who Am I?'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 Who Am I? against these established plot points, we can identify how Jackie Chan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Who Am I? within the action genre.
Jackie Chan's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Jackie Chan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Who Am I? represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jackie Chan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jackie Chan analyses, see Chinese Zodiac, Project A and Operation Condor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jackie as a confident special forces operative on a covert mission in South Africa, establishing his identity as an elite soldier with a clear sense of purpose and belonging.
Theme
A team member discusses identity and trust within the unit, foreshadowing the central question: "Who are you when everything you know about yourself is stripped away?"
Worldbuilding
Establishing the covert mission in South Africa, the team dynamics, the high-tech military operation to retrieve a powerful energy source, and Jackie's role as a loyal operative.
Disruption
Betrayal: Jackie's own team attempts to kill him in a helicopter crash to eliminate witnesses. The crash leaves him stranded in the African wilderness with complete amnesia.
Resistance
Jackie struggles with amnesia in an African village where natives care for him. He has no memory of who he is. The tribe names him "Who Am I?" He debates whether to stay safe or search for his identity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jackie makes the active choice to leave the safety of the village and journey to civilization to discover his true identity, despite having no memory or resources.
Mirror World
Jackie meets Christine and Yuki, two journalists who represent connection and trust. They become his allies and Christine specifically embodies the theme of accepting someone without knowing their past.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Jackie uses his martial arts skills (muscle memory) to survive and investigate, creating spectacular action sequences while searching for clues about his identity with the journalists' help.
Midpoint
False defeat: Jackie discovers evidence of his military past and realizes he was part of the mission that stole the energy device, but also that someone powerful wants him dead. The stakes escalate as enemies close in.
Opposition
The CIA and the conspirators intensify their hunt for Jackie. Multiple action sequences as enemies close in. His fragmented memories return but create more questions. The conspiracy deepens.
Collapse
Jackie is captured by the conspirators. His allies are threatened. The whiff of death: he faces execution and the complete loss of ever knowing who he truly is or was.
Crisis
Jackie's dark night of the soul. In captivity, he processes that his old identity was built on lies and betrayal. He must decide who he wants to be moving forward, not who he was.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jackie realizes his amnesia is a gift: he can choose his identity. He synthesizes his combat skills with his new values of trust and friendship, breaking free to stop the conspiracy.
Synthesis
The finale: spectacular action sequences as Jackie confronts the conspirators, including the iconic Rotterdam rooftop fight. He defeats the villains and recovers the stolen device, saving his friends.
Transformation
Jackie, now with his memory restored, chooses to embrace his new identity built on friendship and trust rather than returning to his old life as a soldier. He smiles with Christine and Yuki, at peace with who he has become.