Character Relationship Map: Zurich

Characters

• Lea (played by Liv Lisa Fries) — protagonist

  A 22-year-old woman who has suffered from cystic fibrosis since childhood. Facing constant fear of suffocation, she seeks assisted euthanasia in Switzerland and plans to die on her 23rd birthday. She...

• Rita (played by Sophie Rogall) — supporting

  Lea's sister. She is shocked when Lea reveals her plan to die but ultimately accepts her decision.

• Michaela Orff (played by Bibiana Beglau) — supporting

  An employee of the Swiss assisted-euthanasia organisation. She picks Lea up at the hostel, brings her to Dr. Seydlitz, informs her that she can cancel her plans, and accompanies her during the final p...

• Moritz (played by Max Hegewald) — supporting

  A man Lea's age who suffers from severe depression and previously attempted suicide by slitting his wrists. His application for euthanasia was rejected. He befriends Lea and goes boating with her on L...

• Maria (played by Kerstin De Ahna) — supporting

  Lea's grandmother. She is shocked by Lea's decision but accepts it and later accompanies the family during the final events.

• Dr. Joseph Seydlitz (played by Robert Hunger-Bühler) — supporting

  A doctor who prescribes Lea a controlled substance after being convinced of the severity of her poor health.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Moritz → Michaela Orff (Professional Applicant And Organisation Employee) — The plot establishes their connection through Moritz's rejected application to the organisation, but does not describe a direct encounter.

  The plot says Moritz applied for euthanasia and was rejected, and identifies Michaela as an employee of the organisation. It does not describe a direc...

• Lea → Dr. Joseph Seydlitz (Professional Doctor And Patient) — Dr. Seydlitz assesses Lea's condition and prescribes the controlled substance connected to her planned death.

  Michaela brings Lea to Dr. Seydlitz, who prescribes her a controlled substance after being convinced of the severity of her poor health.

• Lea → Michaela Orff (Professional Assisted-Euthanasia Facilitator) — Michaela facilitates Lea's access to the organisation's process and accompanies her at the end, while making clear that Lea can still cancel.

  Michaela Orff, an employee of the assisted-euthanasia organisation, picks Lea up at the hostel, takes her to Dr. Seydlitz, explains that she can cance...

• Lea → Maria (Family Grandmother And Granddaughter) — Maria is initially shocked but accepts Lea's choice and remains with the family through the final events.

  The plot identifies Maria as Lea's grandmother. Maria is shocked by Lea's decision but accepts it and accompanies the family during the final events.

• Lea → Rita (Family Sisters) — Rita reacts with shock to Lea's plan to die, then accepts her sister's decision.

  The plot identifies Rita as Lea's sister. Rita is shocked when Lea reveals her plan but ultimately accepts her decision.

Story Dynamics

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

• Lea → Moritz (Social Friends) — The two become friends while staying at the hostel and share a boating trip on Lake Zurich.

  Lea meets Moritz at the hostel, befriends him, and goes boating with him on Lake Zurich.

Story Analysis

A young woman with cystic fibrosis pursues assisted euthanasia in Switzerland while facing her family's reactions and forming a friendship with another applicant.

Plot Progression

1. A Life Shaped by Illness — Lea's cystic fibrosis makes even ordinary tasks difficult and leaves her afraid of suffocation. Her brother's death from the same disease forms part of her family history as she decides to die on her...
2. Seeking a Swiss Procedure — Lea travels to Zurich without informing her family and is taken to a doctor by Michaela Orff. After assessing Lea's poor health, Dr. Seydlitz prescribes a controlled substance.
3. Family and Friendship — Lea tells her family about her plan, shocking Maria and Rita before they accept her decision. At the hostel, she befriends Moritz, whose own euthanasia application was rejected, and they go boating to...
4. Birthday Before the End — Lea shares a pleasant restaurant meal with her family and marks midnight as her birthday. Once back at the hostel, she suffers a painful coughing fit and struggles to breathe.
5. The Final Decision — At the organisation, Michaela reminds Lea that she can cancel, but Lea takes the antiemetic. After a panic attack and a moment before a mirror, she continues with her plan and drinks the hypnotic in t...