Character Relationship Map: French Postcards

Characters

• Alex (played by David Marshall Grant) — protagonist

  An American exchange student at the Institute of French Studies in Paris, Alex is more interested in romance and Parisian life than in his studies. He becomes involved in a tryst with Madame Tessier,...

• Joel (played by Miles Chapin) — supporting

  An American exchange student in Paris, Joel struggles with indecisiveness, a difficulty that complicates his romantic life. He falls in love with Toni, a local bookstore employee, making their relatio...

• Toni (played by Valérie Quennessen) — supporting

  A local bookstore employee in Paris, Toni becomes the object of Joel's love during his year abroad. Their relationship is complicated by Joel's indecisiveness, which makes her connection to him a key...

• Madame Tessier (played by Marie-France Pisier) — supporting

  Madame Catherine Tessier runs the fictional Institute of French Studies in Paris with her husband and serves as its co-director and a teacher. She becomes involved in a tryst with Alex, one of the Ame...

• Monsieur Tessier (played by Jean Rochefort) — supporting

  Monsieur Tessier is Madame Catherine Tessier's husband and helps run the fictional Institute of French Studies, where the American exchange students spend a year studying in Paris. The summary provide...

• Laura (played by Blanche Baker) — supporting

  An American exchange student studying in Paris, Laura spends much of her time alone visiting museums and art galleries. She regularly sends postcards to her boyfriend back home, who declined the oppor...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Monsieur Tessier → Laura (Power Institute Authority)

  Monsieur Tessier helps run the Institute of French Studies where Laura studies in Paris.

• Monsieur Tessier → Joel (Power Institute Authority)

  Monsieur Tessier co-runs the Institute attended by Joel during his year in Paris.

• Monsieur Tessier → Alex (Power Institute Authority)

  Monsieur Tessier jointly runs the Institute of French Studies, where Alex studies as an American exchange student.

• Madame Tessier → Laura (Power Institute Authority)

  Madame Tessier co-directs the Institute of French Studies, where Laura spends the year as an American exchange student.

• Madame Tessier → Joel (Power Institute Authority)

  Madame Tessier co-directs the Institute where Joel is one of the American exchange students studying in Paris.

• Madame Tessier → Monsieur Tessier (Family Spouse)

  The Institute is described as being run by Madame Catherine Tessier and her husband Monsieur Tessier.

• Joel → Toni (Romantic Love Interest)

  Joel falls in love with Toni, who works at a local bookstore.

• Alex → Madame Tessier (Romantic Lover)

  The plot states that Alex becomes involved in a tryst with Madame Tessier, his teacher and the Institute's co-director.

Story Dynamics

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

• Joel → Laura (Social Fellow Student)

  Joel and Laura are both described as American exchange students spending a year studying in Paris.

• Alex → Laura (Social Fellow Student)

  Alex and Laura are both members of the American exchange-student group studying in Paris.

• Alex → Joel (Social Fellow Student)

  Alex and Joel are both identified as members of the group of American exchange students spending a year studying in Paris.

Story Analysis

American exchange students experience study, solitude, romance, and uncertainty during a year in Paris.

Plot Progression

1. Arriving In Paris
2. Solitude And Distance
3. Alex Crosses Boundaries
4. Joel Finds Complication
5. A Year Of Change