Character Relationship Map: The Witches

Characters

• Gloria / Lady in a Hurry / Assurdina Caì / Nunzia / Giovanna (played by Silvana Mangano) — protagonist

  A famous actress who attends a friend's anniversary party in Austria, drinks heavily, and later discovers she is pregnant. She argues with her husband/manager about taking a break for motherhood and l...

• Valeria (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Annie Girardot) — protagonist

  Host of the 10th anniversary party in Kitzbühel, Austria, whose unfaithful husband Paolo attends with Gloria.

• Paolo (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Francisco Rabal) — supporting

  Valeria's unfaithful husband who attends the anniversary party and pursues Gloria, the famous actress.

• Sportsman (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Massimo Girotti) — supporting
• Hotel Page (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Helmut Berger) — supporting
• Young Girl Friend (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Véronique Vendell) — supporting
• Female Tourist (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna") (played by Luigi Leoni) — minor
• Admirer (segment "Una sera come le altre") (played by Corinne Fontaine) — minor
• Pianist (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Bruno Filippini) — minor
• Man at Stadium (segment "Una sera come le altre") (played by Valentino Macchi) — minor
• Gossip (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Elsa Albani) — supporting
• Industrialist (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Leslie French) — minor
• Ciancicato Miao (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna") (played by Totò) — minor
• Carlo / Charlie (segment "Una sera come le altre") (played by Clint Eastwood) — minor
• Elio Ferocci (segment "Senso civico") (played by Alberto Sordi) — minor
• Ex-Actress (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Clara Calamai) — supporting
• Male Tourist (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna") (played by Laura Betti) — minor
• Baciu Miao (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna") (played by Ninetto Davoli) — minor
• Dino, the Waiter (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Dino Mele) — supporting
• Gloria's Secretary (segment "La strega bruciata viva") (played by Nora Ricci) — supporting

Story Analysis

An anthology exploring female agency, societal pressure, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion across four distinct narratives.

Plot Progression

1. The Gilded Cage — Gloria navigates the pressures of fame and pregnancy at a lavish anniversary party, ultimately choosing to escape her career and societal expectations.
2. Urban Indifference & Rural Tragedy — The narrative shifts to themes of apathy and fate, introducing Assurdina's supernatural journey and the tragic setup of a Sicilian blood feud.
3. Blood Feud & Domestic Illusion — Assurdina's accidental death and ghostly return contrast with Nunzia's passive suffering amid escalating familial violence and revenge.
4. The Final Fantasy — Giovanna's marital frustrations erupt into elaborate fantasies of dominance and tragedy, culminating in a surreal climax before returning to quiet reality.