Character Relationship Map: Max

Characters

• Max Rothman (played by John Cusack) — protagonist

  Munich art dealer and WWI veteran who lost his right arm. Married to Nina with a mistress named Liselore. He discovers and patronizes a young Adolf Hitler's artistic talent, attempting to guide him aw...

• Adolf Hitler (played by Noah Taylor) — protagonist

  Young WWI veteran and aspiring painter disgruntled over Germany's post-war humiliation. Initially a struggling artist, he is encouraged by Max Rothman to pursue art, though he harbors strong anti-Semi...

• Liselore von Peltz (played by Leelee Sobieski) — supporting

  Max Rothman's mistress. No further plot details are provided in the summary.

• Max's Mother (played by Janet Suzman) — supporting
• Max's Father (played by David Horovitch) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Max's Father → Max Rothman (father)
• Max's Mother → Max Rothman (mother)
• Max Rothman → Adolf Hitler (Professional Mentor) — Max acts as Hitler's artistic mentor and attempts to redirect him toward painting.

  Max believes Hitler has artistic talent and encourages him to explore his inner potential through art.

• Max Rothman → Liselore von Peltz (Romantic Mistress) — Liselore is involved in a secret romantic relationship with Max.

  The plot states that Max is married but also has a mistress named Liselore.

Story Analysis

A postwar art dealer tries to contain a dangerous political imagination through artistic patronage, but rhetoric escapes the gallery and destroys him.

Plot Progression

1. A Gallery After The War — Max returns to Germany after losing his right arm and abandons his own painting career. He establishes a modern art gallery in Munich, creating the setting for a fateful encounter.
2. The Young Painter's Chance — Hitler asks Max to display his paintings, and Max recognizes a measure of artistic talent. Max nevertheless begins supporting an aspiring painter whose anti-Semitic views already trouble him.
3. Art Versus Propaganda — Hitler is encouraged toward politics and propaganda while Max tries to keep him focused on art. Their opposing ideas become increasingly difficult to separate from their professional relationship.
4. The Dangerous Vision — Hitler explains his racial beliefs, and Max studies architectural sketches expressing national greatness. Max hopes artistic success can contain Hitler's increasingly dangerous ambitions.
5. Violence Outside The Cafe — Hitler gives a violently anti-Semitic rally speech before going to a cafe with militaristic drawings. Supporters incited by the speech attack Max, while Hitler misunderstands Max's absence and leaves.