What Is Breaking and Entering About?
The premise of Breaking and Entering in 319 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the muted hum of contemporary London, Will Francis builds landscapes by day, shaping gardens that promise order while his own home feels increasingly fragmented. Sharing a cramped flat with his Swedish‑American partner Liv and her teenage daughter Bea, whose quiet rebellions and singular focus on gymnastics cast long shadows over their fragile routine, Will finds himself drifting between professional composure and personal unease. Their attempts at counseling hint at deeper cracks, and the weight of being an outsider in a family that isn’t biologically his begins to shape his quiet obsession with finding a more authentic connection.
At the sleek offices he runs with his business partner Sandy in King’s Cross, a series of unexplained break‑ins disturb the polished routine of the workplace. The subtle tension of these intrusions pulls Will out of his domestic confines, granting him nocturnal hours that feel oddly liberating. He takes to watching the building after dark, a habit that not only offers a respite from the strained atmosphere at home but also draws his attention to the fleeting silhouettes moving through the city’s underbelly.
One night his curiosity leads him to a young acrobat, Mirsad “Miro”, whose lithe agility seems to belong to a world far removed from corporate corridors. Following the trail, Will encounters Amira, Miro’s mother, a seamstress whose modest apartment exudes a quiet resilience. A chance meeting with Oana, an enigmatic figure lingering in the neighborhood’s nightscape, adds another layer of intrigue, prompting Will to question the boundaries between his carefully curated existence and the raw, unfiltered lives unfolding around him.
The film unfolds with a subdued, almost lyrical tone, marrying the sleek geometry of modern design with the tangled emotions of its characters. It invites viewers to linger in the spaces between duty and desire, offering a portrait of a man standing at the threshold of two very different worlds, each promising a different kind of entry—and exit.
What Happens in Breaking and Entering?
The complete story of Breaking and Entering, from the first scene to the last, in 474 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Will Francis is a young English landscape architect in London, living a meticulously organized life beside his Swedish-American girlfriend Liv and her 14-year-old daughter Bea. Bea’s irregular sleep and eating patterns, coupled with her social awkwardness and single-minded love of somersaults and gymnastics, place a growing strain on Will and Liv’s relationship. The distance between them widens as Will watches Bea struggle to connect with others, and he begins to feel like an outsider in a family that isn’t technically his. They try relationship counseling, hoping to bridge the growing gap, but the drift between them stubbornly persists, casting a pale shadow over their daily routines and future plans.
Meanwhile, their architectural firm is the target of repeated burglaries by a group that speaks Slavic languages. A key weakness in the building’s alarm system hints at inside knowledge, and the thefts are carried out with the help of Miro, a 15-year-old traceur whose acrobatic skills make him a nimble and elusive intruder. Miro’s backstory reveals a refugee childhood from Bosnia and Herzegovina, living with his Bosnian Muslim mother Amira, who works as a seamstress, while his Serbian father was killed in the war. The burglars’ operation is not just a random crime spree but a desperate means of survival, a detail that begins to complicate Will and Liv’s sterile view of the thefts.
At first, Will and Sandy, his partner, dismiss the break-ins as the neighborhood’s rough reputation, but a second intrusion pushes them to stake out the building after hours. The nightly vigil unexpectedly aligns with Will’s own need to feel purposeful and in control, a counterweight to the emotional fog at home. It’s during these late-night stakeouts that Will crosses paths with Oana, an Eastern European sex worker who frequents the area, and a chance encounter leads him to follow Miro back to his modest home. Rather than report the break-in to the police, Will returns to Amira’s apartment under the guise of needing a suit mended, drawn by a growing curiosity and a sense of connection that he hasn’t felt in a long time.
As Will becomes emotionally entangled with Amira, the boundaries between personal longing and moral duty blur. The relationship with Liv continues to hover in the background, but Will’s fascination with Amira sparks a reevaluation of his own life, his loyalties, and what he’s willing to risk for a chance at happiness. The investigation closes in on the burglars, and Will faces a pivotal decision that could ripple through the lives of everyone close to him—from Liv and Bea to Amira and Miro. The film builds toward a difficult choice that tests how far one man will go when love, duty, and the truth collide, and it asks whether the pull of personal desire can ever be separated from the consequences it creates for the people around him.
Breaking and Entering Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Will's orderly London life” to “The aftermath reshapes their lives”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Will's orderly London life
Will Francis, a landscape architect, leads a routine life in London with his girlfriend Liv and her autistic daughter Bea. The household is quiet but emotionally distant, especially between Will and Bea. He moves through each day with a sense of predictable regularity.
When:Daytime Where:London, Will's home
- 2
Bea's struggles strain the family
Bea's irregular sleep, eating habits and social withdrawal strain the family. The 14-year-old's somersaults and fixation on gymnastics point to deeper issues. The tension between Will and Liv grows as they try to manage Bea's needs.
When:Daytime Where:London home
- 3
Relationship counseling begins
Will and Liv start relationship counseling to salvage their bond, hoping to bridge the emotional gap. The sessions reveal unresolved questions about belonging and parenthood. The couple's closeness continues to drift apart despite their efforts.
When:Daytime Where:Liv and Will's home / counseling office
- 4
Burglaries hit the Kings Cross offices
Will and his partner Sandy discover their Kings Cross offices are repeatedly burgled by a group using a 15-year-old thief. The burglaries unsettle them and seem to be part of a larger scheme rather than random crime. They decide to take action after the second break-in.
When:Night Where:Kings Cross offices
- 5
The gang uses Miro, a young entry specialist
The burglars employ Mirsad 'Miro', a nimble 15-year-old tracer whose acrobatics let them enter the building. Miro is an immigrant refugee living with his mother Amira, a seamstress. His inclusion reveals a human side to the criminals' operations.
When:Night Where:Miro's world / Amira's apartment
- 6
Will investigates from the shadows
After the second break-in, Will and Sandy stake out the building to catch the culprit. Will learns the crimes are coordinated rather than opportunistic, raising the stakes of the case.
When:Night Where:Kings Cross building
- 7
Will meets Oana, the night observer
During his stakeouts, Will meets Oana, an Eastern European prostitute who haunts the area. The late-night encounters provide Will with an unexpected emotional distraction.
When:Night Where:Nearby streets / area around Kings Cross
- 8
Following the trail to Amira
Will spots Miro trying to break in and follows him to the boy's home, where he meets Miro's mother Amira. Rather than report the break-in, he returns with the pretense of needing a suit mended. The encounter opens a door to a morally ambiguous path.
When:Night Where:Amira's apartment
- 9
Emotional entanglement challenges Will
Will forms an unexpected emotional connection with Amira, reevaluating his life and abandoning his routine complacency. The bond pulls him into a space where personal attraction clashes with duty and family loyalties. He starts to question what kind of life he wants.
When:Night Where:Amira's apartment
- 10
Police close in on the burglars
As law enforcement corners the burglars, the stakes rise for everyone involved. Will's secret relationship and his choice to remain silent threaten his relationships and professional life.
When:Night Where:London / Kings Cross vicinity
- 11
A decisive choice looms
Will must decide whether to report the burglary and risk exposing his affair, or protect Amira and Miro by staying silent. The decision could imperil Bea, Liv, and his career. The emotional weight of the choice forces him to confront what he values most.
When:Night Where:Kings Cross / Amira's apartment
- 12
The aftermath reshapes their lives
The consequences of Will's decision ripple through his relationships and sense of belonging in London. The film ends with an open aftermath, highlighting the tension between personal desire and responsibility.
When:Aftermath Where:London
Who Are the Main Characters in Breaking and Entering?
7 characters, among them Will Francis, Liv and Bea: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- WF
Will Francis
A landscape architect whose routine life in London feels hollow. He is observant and capable of deep empathy, but emotionally distant, especially from Liv and Bea. His growing curiosity about Amira and Miro drags him into a moral gray area, forcing a reckoning with his own values.
- 👤 Protagonist
- 🧭 Inner conflict
- 💔 Relationship strain
- L
Liv
Will’s Swedish-American girlfriend and Bea’s mother. She is caring but increasingly overwhelmed by Bea’s irregular behavior and the strain it places on their relationship. She seeks support through counseling, hoping to rebuild trust.
- 👩💼 Partner
- 💗 Family under pressure
- 🧊 Emotional distance
- B
Bea
A 14-year-old autistic girl with irregular sleep and eating patterns who appears fascinated by somersaults and gymnastics. Her challenges complicate family life and test Will and Liv’s ability to connect with her. Bea’s world is set apart from the adults’ concerns, yet it anchors the family’s dynamics.
- 🧒 Adolescent
- 🧠 Autism
- 💤 Sleep and routine
- M“
Mirsad “Miro”
A 15-year-old traceur whose acrobatic skills enable the burglars to enter offices. He is a Bosnian refugee growing up between two worlds, with his Bosnian Muslim mother Amira. His presence adds danger, vulnerability, and a human face to the crime.
- 🧗 Acrobatics
- 🧭 Refugee journey
- 🕵️ Hidden motives
- A
Amira
Bosnian Muslim mother who works as a seamstress. She supports Miro and provides a window into immigrant resilience and hardship. Amira’s modest life and her relationship with Miro deepen the story’s emotional stakes.
- 🧵 Seamstress
- 🏠 Immigrant family
- 🕌 Heritage
- S
Sandy
Will’s partner at the architecture firm; they share the burden of the burglaries and must navigate professional pressures alongside personal shifts. Sandy represents a grounded, practical counterpoint to Will’s inner turmoil.
- 🏢 Office life
- 👥 Colleague
- 🗝️ Security concerns
- O
Oana
An Eastern European prostitute who crosses Will’s path during nightly stakeouts. Her presence introduces an uneasy, morally ambiguous touch to Will’s expanding circle of temptations and connections.
- 🌙 Nightlife
- 💼 Prostitution
- ⚠️ Temptation
Where and When Is Breaking and Entering Set?
Breaking and Entering is set in London, Kings Cross, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The events take place in contemporary London, reflecting a modern urban milieu with office life, nightlife, and complex family dynamics. The narrative feels grounded in the early 21st century, a time of rapid city change and social mobility.
Where
London, Kings Cross, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The story unfolds primarily in London, centered on the Kings Cross area where sleek office towers sit beside densely populated streets. It contrasts the modern, professional world with intimate, cramped living spaces of immigrant families. The city’s multicultural milieu frames the interactions between Will, Miro, and Amira.
- 🏙️ Urban setting
- 🧭 Modern city
- 🏠 Diverse communities
What Are the Themes of Breaking and Entering?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Belonging, Moral Dilemma and Urban Crime.
-
01
Belonging
The film probes what it means to belong—whether through biology, choice, or shared experience. Will’s detachment from Liv and Bea tests the boundaries of family and loyalty. Miro’s refugee background adds pressure to what counts as home and trust. The story suggests belonging is earned through acts of care as much as through birthright.
-
02
Moral Dilemma
Will faces a clash between law and empathy as he becomes entangled with Amira and with the burglary situation. His decisions carry weight, threatening to hurt or save the people around him. The evolving relationship with Amira forces him to reevaluate duty, honesty, and responsibility. The choice he makes reveals his character under pressure.
-
03
Urban Crime
The burglary plot exposes vulnerabilities in a city that seems polished on the surface. The burglars’ skills and motivations highlight class tensions and the fragility of security. The film juxtaposes architectural sophistication with human fragility, showing how crime intersects with intimate lives. Consequences ripple beyond the heists to reshape relationships.
What Kind of Film Is Breaking and Entering?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A slow-paced, melancholic drama tinged with tension, exploring the quiet desperation of a crumbling relationship and the moral ambiguities of crime against a somber London backdrop.
- melancholic
- introspective
- tense
- atmospheric
- lonely
- emotional
- broken relationship
- immigrant struggle
- moral dilemma
- crime and consequence
Content notes: burglary, war background.
Quiz
How well do you remember Breaking and Entering? Test yourself on the story.
