Character Relationship Map: Préjudice

Characters

• Mother (played by Nathalie Baye) — protagonist
• Cédric (played by Thomas Blanchard) — supporting
• Gaëtan (played by Éric Caravaca) — supporting
• Caroline (played by Ariane Labed) — supporting
• Laurent (played by Julien Baumgartner) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Caroline → Cédric (Family Sibling) — A sibling relationship damaged by competing needs for attention.

  Caroline tells Cédric that she feels nobody cares about her pregnancy, while Cédric accuses her of abandoning him for her unborn children.

• Caroline → Gaëtan (Romantic Partner) — A couple preparing for the birth of their child.

  Caroline arrives with Gaëtan and announces her pregnancy while the family discusses their future.

• Mother → Laurent (Family Parent) — Mother and Laurent belong to the same family and are expected to attend the gathering.

  Mother welcomes the children and their partners, while Laurent is delayed by work during the family gathering.

• Mother → Caroline (Family Mother) — A maternal relationship complicated by Caroline's need for emotional support.

  Mother welcomes Caroline, discusses her pregnancy, tries to reassure her, and suggests that the family could travel together.

• Mother → Cédric (Family Mother) — A strained mother-son bond shaped by care, dependence, and repeated misunderstanding.

  Mother returns home with Cédric, tells him to change into his pajamas, and later admits that she also struggles.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Cédric → Gaëtan (Conflict Interpersonal Tension) — Cédric feels displaced by the attention given to Gaëtan.

  Cédric believes the family's laughter is nervous and intended only to please Gaëtan.

• Mother → Gaëtan (Social Family Acquaintance) — A cordial connection within the family gathering.

  Mother welcomes Caroline and Gaëtan to the family gathering and participates in discussions about Caroline's pregnancy.

Story Analysis

A family reunion exposes competing needs for attention, belonging, reassurance, and help.

Plot Progression

1. A Long-Awaited Gathering — Mother prepares for a family reunion while Laurent is delayed by work. Cédric arrives with maps and a poster for a journey that the family does not fully take seriously.
2. News Of A New Child — Caroline arrives with Gaëtan and announces her pregnancy. The family celebrates, but Cédric's question about abortion exposes his insecurity and sense of exclusion.
3. Dinner Turns Hostile — At dinner, Cédric's riddle and interpretation of the family's laughter trigger an argument. The conflict shifts toward his trip and his demand to be understood.
4. Dream Dismissed — Mother admits that she mentioned Austria without knowing the origin of Cédric's poster. Feeling dismissed, Cédric leaves after being ordered to apologize and take his map.
5. Unanswered Cries — Back home, arguments about clothes and the travel guide continue. Caroline's distress, Cédric's cries for help, and Mother's admission of struggle end the story in shock and unresolved pain.