Yves Saint Laurent
A look at the life of French designer Yves Saint Laurent from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
Working with a tight budget of $12.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $21.0M in global revenue (+75% profit margin).
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%)
Yves Saint Laurent (2014) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Jalil Lespert's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Yves Saint Laurent working as assistant to Christian Dior, nervous and talented, sketching designs in the House of Dior atelier. He is anxious, uncertain of his place in the fashion world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Christian Dior dies suddenly of a heart attack. The 21-year-old Yves is thrust into the role of head designer at the House of Dior, facing enormous pressure and public scrutiny.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Yves's first Dior collection is a triumph. He is carried on shoulders through the streets, hailed as "the savior of France." He chooses to embrace his role as a fashion genius and begins a relationship with Pierre Bergé., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The first YSL collection in 1962 is a massive success. Yves achieves independence and validation. False victory: he appears to have everything—fame, creative control, love—but the stakes raise as success brings new pressures., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yves has a complete mental and physical breakdown before a major show. He is hospitalized, heavily medicated. His relationship with Pierre is shattered, his ability to create is in question. The whiff of death: his artistic soul appears extinguished., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Yves realizes that creation is his only truth, that he must accept the cost of his genius. Pierre and Yves reconcile not as lovers but as partners bound by their mission. They synthesize: art requires sacrifice, but the work endures., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Yves Saint Laurent'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 Yves Saint Laurent against these established plot points, we can identify how Jalil Lespert utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Yves Saint Laurent within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Yves Saint Laurent working as assistant to Christian Dior, nervous and talented, sketching designs in the House of Dior atelier. He is anxious, uncertain of his place in the fashion world.
Theme
Christian Dior tells Yves: "There is no other way but to love what you do with all your soul and give everything to it." The theme of artistic devotion versus personal happiness is stated.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Yves as Dior's protégé in 1957 Paris haute couture world. We meet his mother, see his relationship with Dior, witness the pressure and hierarchy of the fashion house, and understand his fragile temperament.
Disruption
Christian Dior dies suddenly of a heart attack. The 21-year-old Yves is thrust into the role of head designer at the House of Dior, facing enormous pressure and public scrutiny.
Resistance
Yves debates whether he can handle the responsibility. He meets Pierre Bergé at a dinner party who becomes fascinated with him. Yves prepares his first collection under intense pressure and doubt.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yves's first Dior collection is a triumph. He is carried on shoulders through the streets, hailed as "the savior of France." He chooses to embrace his role as a fashion genius and begins a relationship with Pierre Bergé.
Mirror World
Pierre Bergé and Yves become lovers and creative partners. Pierre represents business acumen and emotional stability—the grounding force to Yves's artistic volatility. Their relationship will embody the theme of art versus life.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Yves as fashion revolutionary. We see him break rules with his "beatnik" collection, get drafted into military service, suffer a mental breakdown, and eventually be fired from Dior. Pierre helps him launch his own house—YSL.
Midpoint
The first YSL collection in 1962 is a massive success. Yves achieves independence and validation. False victory: he appears to have everything—fame, creative control, love—but the stakes raise as success brings new pressures.
Opposition
Success intensifies Yves's inner demons. He becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, engages in anonymous sexual encounters, grows paranoid and erratic. Pierre struggles to manage both the business and Yves's deterioration. Their relationship fractures.
Collapse
Yves has a complete mental and physical breakdown before a major show. He is hospitalized, heavily medicated. His relationship with Pierre is shattered, his ability to create is in question. The whiff of death: his artistic soul appears extinguished.
Crisis
Yves in isolation and despair, processing the loss of his relationship with Pierre, confronting his addictions and mental fragility. He questions whether art is worth this price, whether he can continue creating.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Yves realizes that creation is his only truth, that he must accept the cost of his genius. Pierre and Yves reconcile not as lovers but as partners bound by their mission. They synthesize: art requires sacrifice, but the work endures.
Synthesis
The finale shows Yves continuing to create revolutionary collections through the 1970s and beyond. The partnership with Pierre persists despite personal pain. Yves's legacy solidifies as he transforms women's fashion forever.
Transformation
Final image: Yves alone in his studio, older, surrounded by his sketches and creations. He has chosen art over personal happiness. The transformation is bittersweet—he achieved immortality through his work but sacrificed his soul to do it.