Breaking and Entering

Breaking and Entering

Year: 2011

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Benjamin Fingerhut

Documentary

What would you do to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records? The famed reference catalogues the most bizarre human achievements, but who are the eccentric individuals behind them? From grape catchers and hula‑hoop masters to ‘jogglers’, this witty yet incisive documentary follows them through interviews and vivid footage, profiling the colourful characters devoted to the oddest frontiers of human excellence and delivering a delightfully eccentric odyssey not to be missed.

Breaking and Entering (2011) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Breaking and Entering (2011) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In contemporary London, Will Francis lives a meticulously ordered life as a landscape architect, his days framed by sleek office spaces and the quiet cadence of the city. At home he shares a modest flat with his girlfriend Liv, a Swedish‑American whose world revolves around caring for her 14‑year‑old daughter Bea, a bright but socially withdrawn teen whose unique rhythms strain the couple’s intimacy. The trio navigates the delicate balance between routine and yearning, with Will feeling increasingly peripheral in a household that is not his own. Their attempts at relationship counselling hint at a longing for connection while the city’s perpetual hum provides a backdrop of both comfort and constraint.

Beyond the polished corridors of Will’s Kings Cross office, a series of unsettling nocturnal intrusions disturb the building’s polished veneer. Among the shadowy figures is a lithe 15‑year‑old traceur named Mirsad “Miro”, whose fluid movements suggest a world far removed from corporate design. He shares a cramped apartment with his mother Amira, a resilient seamstress whose quiet dignity masks a past scarred by conflict in the Balkans. The juxtaposition of modern architecture with the raw, acrobatic energy of the young refugee creates a subtle tension that threads through the city’s night, inviting curiosity about the lives that intersect beneath its surface.

These parallel currents draw Will into an unexpected nocturnal rhythm. While his stakeouts offer a reprieve from domestic strain, they also lead him to the enigmatic Oana, an Eastern‑European presence whose nightly wanderings echo the city’s hidden stories. As he slips further into the lives of Miro and Amira, a quiet introspection takes hold, prompting him to reevaluate the boundaries of duty, desire, and belonging. The film’s tone remains a measured blend of understated drama and lingering mystery, inviting the audience to consider how ordinary lives can intersect with the extraordinary under the glow of London’s ever‑watchful lights.

Last Updated: October 23, 2025 at 16:12

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Movies with Quiet Urban Melancholy like Breaking and Entering

Films that capture the quiet sadness and isolation of life in the modern city.If you liked the atmospheric and lonely feel of Breaking and Entering, explore this collection of movies like it. These films share a slow, deliberate pace and a melancholic tone, using the urban setting to explore themes of isolation and moral uncertainty.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often follow characters navigating personal crises against the backdrop of a seemingly impersonal city. The plot is secondary to the emotional landscape, focusing on quiet moments of reflection, strained relationships, and the subtle tension of everyday life.

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Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to a specific mood: a slow-burning, contemplative melancholy rooted in an urban setting. They prioritize atmosphere and emotional texture over fast-paced plots, creating a cohesive, immersive, and reflective viewing experience.

Movies with Moral Ambiguity like Breaking and Entering

Stories where good people face difficult choices that blur the lines of right and wrong.For viewers who appreciated the complex ethical dilemmas in Breaking and Entering, this list features similar movies about moral ambiguity. These stories focus on characters making difficult choices, leading to bittersweet endings and deep emotional reflection.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose comfortable life is disrupted, forcing them into a situation where their morals are tested. The story explores the grey areas of their choices, weaving together different perspectives to show that there are no easy answers, often culminating in a conclusion that acknowledges loss and growth.

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These films are connected by their focus on ethical complexity and character-driven dilemmas. They share a moderate intensity derived from psychological tension rather than action, and a tone that is serious and reflective, making them compelling for audiences who enjoy nuanced storytelling.

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Breaking and Entering Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Breaking and Entering

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Breaking and Entering

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