Character Relationship Map: Run with the Devil

Characters

• Donata (played by Antonella Lualdi) — protagonist

  Donata is an artist in Rome whose personal exhibition at a leading gallery becomes a focus of debate among the artists. Her success prompts Marco to question the relationship between artistic merit an...

• Stefano (played by Gérard Blain) — supporting

  Stefano is a talented painter in Rome’s Via Margutta artists’ quarter, devoted to his art but not skilled or interested in promoting himself. While other artists focus more on selling an artist person...

• Giosuè (played by Franco Fabrizi) — supporting

  Giosuè is one of the artists trying to earn money from paintings and performances with Marco. When he becomes ill, Marco is left to collect their payment. Later, the friends use an invitation from his...

• Marco (played by Spiros Focás) — supporting

  Marco is an artist who tries to earn money with Giosuè and is left to collect payment when his friend becomes ill. He later sells Marisa’s paintings under her name, claiming he wants to protect his re...

• Marisa (played by Cristina Gaïoni) — supporting

  Marisa is a maid who paints in her spare time. A journalist’s interest and a story presenting her as self-taught bring attention to her paintings, which Marco has been selling under her name without t...

• Marta (played by Yvonne Furneaux) — supporting

  Marta returns from a successful singing tour through Yugoslavia and reunites with Bill Rogers. Her return is part of the artists’ social life: those around her make plans for a party at Bill’s studio....

• Bill Rogers (played by Alex Nicol) — supporting

  Bill Rogers is connected to the artists’ gathering at his studio, where plans for a party are made. Marta returns from a successful singing tour through Yugoslavia and reunites with him. The summary p...

Story Dynamics

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

• Giosuè → Donata (Alliance Defender) — Giosuè is among the companions who support Donata while the group debates artists' success and merit.

  During the debate about artistic recognition, the companions defend Donata.

• Giosuè → Stefano (Conflict Accuser And Accused) — Giosuè's suspicion complicates the group's congratulations over Stefano's exhibition.

  The group congratulates Stefano on his show, but Giosuè suggests that Stefano has cheated them.

• Donata → Marco (Conflict Professional Rivals) — Donata's recognition becomes part of the dispute over fame and artistic merit that frustrates Marco.

  Donata has a personal exhibition, while Marco resents other artists' success and argues that artistic merit has little to do with fame.

• Marco → Marisa (Conflict Deceptive Business Partners) — Marco uses Marisa's paintings to attract attention while concealing his role; Marisa fears the deception could expose them to prison.

  Marco admits that he has been selling Marisa's paintings under her name without telling the truth, and Marisa objects to the deception.

• Giosuè → Marco (Alliance Artistic Partners) — They pursue painting sales together, though Giosuè's illness leaves Marco to handle a frustrating collection alone.

  Giosuè and Marco try to make money from their paintings, and Marco is left to collect payment when Giosuè becomes ill.

• Marta → Bill Rogers (Social Reunited Acquaintances) — Their reunion is part of the artists' social gathering at Bill's studio.

  Marta returns from a singing tour and reunites with Bill Rogers.

Story Analysis

Rome's artists struggle with precarious livelihoods and conflicting ideas about recognition, honesty, and artistic merit.

Plot Progression

1. Return to the Artists' Quarter — Marta returns from her successful tour and reunites with Bill. Around them, Rome's artists make party plans and navigate precarious everyday circumstances.
2. Improvised Ways to Get By — Giosuè and Marco struggle to earn money from their paintings, and Giosuè's illness leaves Marco to collect payment alone. The friends also exploit an invitation to a Communion celebration by pretendin...
3. Marisa's Work and Marco's Secret — A journalist's interest brings attention to Marisa's paintings. Marco reveals that he has been selling them under her name, prompting Marisa's fear of exposure and his promise to confess later.
4. Recognition and Unsettled Rivalries — Donata's exhibition and Stefano's show intensify discussion about artistic merit, fame, and possible unfairness. Marco's plans remain unresolved, as do the group's disputes and the calls to Donata.