Film Structure Analysis #6 - The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

This film is a great example of why I never ever ever ever visit websites like Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer: 80%).
I also try not to root for armchair quarterbacks, ride with backseat driver's, or hang with bummers, drags, and slackers.
Dramatic enough? :-)

Tenenbaums is one of the best films made in the last 20 years.
Dramatic enough? :-)

The tone, depth, characters, and rhythm are in perfect balance with each other (If someone ever tells you Wes Anderson is just color palette, balanced frame, and throwback wardrobe, smile at them, nod, and back away slowly. If you have their number in your phone, delete it.).

As I've mentioned before, I remember seeing it in theaters, then discussing it with a barista afterwards. Only a handful of theater memories are as vivid.

Today I am thinking about the structure of the film, so well done. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson co-wrote here.
Their story is a very interesting one, as not many films have an unclear main character. To me, the core of this story belongs to Richie Tenenbaum. Some may disagree. Ultimately, it is the story of a family coming back together, a family repairing the wounds from years before, deep wounds, but a huge part of this journey, this family's repair, is the love story between Richie and Margot.

This is seen in the structure pretty clearly.

The inciting incident of the film is Henry's proposal to Etheline. Royal hears of this, and timed with his financial issues, decides to move back in on/with his family; to do this he lies about having cancer.

We continue to get to know our characters as Royal's plan unfolds. Richie's return home means that the family is united again for the first time in years. We have set up Act 1 and our core question. Can this family love itself again, will our wounds be healed?

Act 2 moves into this through a series of humorous and emotional moments.
"I'm worried about you, Richie."
Royal goes a step further with his plan and moves himself into the house.

To me our midpoint here is a string of scenes.
Raleigh tells Richie that he suspects Margot is having an affair, a core step in the evolution and urgency of Richie's love. Royal connects with his grandkids and Etheline just after this, a breakthrough in family union, but the success is short lived as his cancer lie is revealed, casting him from the Tenenbaum house.

The truth is out and our glimpse of the end of the film is dark: a family separated, including Richie and Margot lost in confusion.

From here an investigative update of Margot's romantic past in montage form ruins Richie. He no longer needs to hide or to fight because he has lost. He removes his glasses, headband, and beard and tries to take his own life.
But he survives and the family comes together again in some way, even if not all at once, over his hospital visit.
He is now able to profess his love for Margot, and she returns the sentiment, a huge turning point which marks our Act 2 close and leads us into the final stretch of the film. Our family is divided, but we have hope in this true love.

Act 3 is a tear towards repair, and it is the above mentioned true love that fuels this, as does, perhaps, the family's awareness and thankfulness for each other after the hospital; Royal starts to get his act together, or tries. He agrees to release Etheline from the marriage, and the family unites at the wedding.

Chas and Eli admit that they too have had it hard and need help, and there we are, a family open, honest, vulnerable, giving each other credit after surviving the absurdity of life with some soul in tact.

We are ready to let Royal go. The funeral shows this. And as we close the door on this Tenenbaum chapter and drop into slow motion with Van Morrison in our ear, we find ourselves as a united family.

Be well.
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(words and image are original)