| Plot points are linear links that make up the | | | | is away in England. |
| chain of traditional Aristotelian 3-act | | | | |
| dramatic structure. This classic structure | | | | ESTABLISHING SHOT: A man places a phone call |
| worked well in Hollywood for almost a century | | | | that we track across the English Channel into |
| now. Although young movie makers are forcing | | | | the France and through a maze of cables and |
| the limits of this structure, plot points | | | | connections all the way to a ... red busy |
| still rule the day as the "tent poles" that | | | | light. |
| hold up of the circus of our dreams. Here are | | | | |
| the plot points of Red (1994), a part of the | | | | INCITING INCIDENT: Valentine hits a dog while |
| Kieslowski trilogy, as I see them. | | | | driving. |
| | | | |
| Red (1994) | | | | PLOT POINT 1: Valentine discovers that the |
| | | | Judge is electronically eavesdropping on his |
| Starring: (Irene Jacob), Jean-Louis | | | | neighbors' phone calls. |
| Trintignant (The Judge), Jean-Pierre Lorit | | | | |
| (Auguste Bruner) | | | | MID POINT EVENT: Auguste is crushed when he |
| | | | catches his girlfriend cheat on him with a |
| Directed by: Krzysztof Kieslowski | | | | guy, and seemingly for no good reason at all. |
| | | | |
| Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof | | | | PLOT POINT 2: Valentine starts to really like |
| Piesiewicz | | | | The Judge and deciphers Judge's own past |
| | | | which is very much like that of Auguste. |
| PROTAGONIST VALENTINE'S DILEMMA: She wants to | | | | |
| be happy but is separated from her boyfriend. | | | | 3rd ACT RESOLUTION: Valentine shares the same |
| | | | ferry boat to England with the Young Judge |
| PROTAGONIST'S DESIRE: To be happy. | | | | Auguste. Both are saved from the tragic |
| | | | accident. |
| HER CHIEF OBSTACLE: Her domineering boyfriend | | | | |