Plot points are linear links that make up the chain of traditional Aristotelian 3-act dramatic structure. This classic structure worked well in Hollywood for almost a century now. Although young movie makers are forcing the limits of this structure, plot points still rule the day as the tent poles that hold up of the circus of our dreams. Here are the plot points of Shanghai Triad (1995), as I see them.

Shanghai Triad (1995)

Starring: Gong Li, Li Baotian, Li Xuejian, Sun Chun, Wang Xiao Xiao
Directed by: Zhang Yimou
Writers: Bi Feiyu (SCreenplay), Li Xiao (Novel)

...sound of water, choppy waves lapping against the boats...

ESTABLISHING SHOT: Country boy Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao), just arrived in Shanghai, is standing in the midst of the urban crowd, totally clueless as to what's going on around him. A picture of confusion, alienation and anxiety. A peasant-fish out of water.

INCITING INCIDENT: Shuisheng witnesses a murder committed by the Tang mafia clan in the warehouse to which he is taken by his uncle.

PLOT POINT 1: Shuisheng witnesses the gorgeous Bijou (Gong Li), Tang's capricious mistress, make love to Sony, the boss's right hand man.

MID POINT EVENT: Shuisheng's uncle and the gang's several other members die during a rival gang's (Fat Yu) unsuccessful attempt on Tang's life. Tang retreats to a remote small island, taking both Bijou and Shuisheng with him and thinking of revenge. [Transition to a DIFFERENT WORLD.]

PLOT POINT 2: In a face to face confrontation, Tang reveals that he is fully aware of Sony's plans to assasinate him in the service of Fat Yu and the fact that Bijou slept with Sony.

3rd ACT RESOLUTION: Tang kills both Sony and Bijou, and takes Shuisheng back to Shanghai together with the small girl he met on the island to take Bijou's place in the future.

...sound of water, choppy waves lapping against Tang's boat...