Character Relationship Map: 10½

Characters

• Gilles Séguin (played by Claude Legault) — protagonist

  Gilles Séguin is a staff member at The Springboard who takes a central role in managing Tommy’s violent outbursts and resistance to authority. He removes Tommy from group situations, demands explanati...

• Tommy Leblanc (played by Robert Naylor) — supporting

  Tommy Leblanc is identified in the medical-care account as the person the injured child says forced him into a sexual act. The allegation establishes a serious source of harm surrounding the family, a...

• Tommy (6 ans) (played by Isaac Bellemare) — supporting

  Tommy is a six-year-old resident at The Springboard and the main focus of the institutional storyline. He struggles with reading, hygiene, routines, and authority, responding to provocation with threa...

• Julie (professeure) (played by Julie Saint-Pierre) — supporting

  Julie is a teacher at The Springboard who achieves a brief positive connection with Tommy. He cooperates with her and receives praise for studying, offering one of the few clear signs of progress in h...

• Evelyne Boileau (travailleuse sociale) (played by Mélanie Desjardins-Chavaudier) — supporting

  Evelyne Boileau is a social worker at The Springboard who helps welcome Tommy when he arrives. She explains the center’s rules and supports his transition into a room, classroom, and strict daily sche...

• Kevin (played by Maxime Desjardins-Tremblay) — supporting

  Kevin is Tommy’s older brother and primary caregiver in the opening events. He brings his injured younger brother for medical attention after the boy reports being forced into a sexual act, and the su...

• Dr Michèle Bergeron (played by Monique Gosselin) — minor

  Dr Michèle Bergeron evaluates Tommy during the crisis at The Springboard. She suggests that medication might make communication possible, presenting a medical response to his volatility. Her recommend...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dr Michèle Bergeron → Tommy Leblanc (Professional Doctor And Patient) — The doctor assesses Tommy and proposes a medical intervention.

  Dr Michèle Bergeron evaluates Tommy and suggests that medication might make communication with him possible.

• Julie (professeure) → Tommy Leblanc (Professional Teacher And Student) — Julie provides one of Tommy's few constructive educational relationships.

  Tommy cooperates with Julie, studies with her, and receives praise for his academic effort.

• Evelyne Boileau (travailleuse sociale) → Tommy Leblanc (Professional Social Worker And Resident) — Evelyne participates in Tommy's institutional intake and support.

  Evelyne Boileau welcomes Tommy to The Springboard, explains the rules, and helps him settle into the center.

• Gilles Séguin → Tommy Leblanc (Professional Caseworker And Resident) — Gilles is Tommy's principal educator and behavioral guide.

  At The Springboard, Gilles Séguin repeatedly tries to help Tommy understand his outbursts, follow rules, and remain in the program.

• Kevin → Tommy (6 ans) (Family Older Brother And Caregiver) — Kevin acts as the injured boy's primary caregiver.

  Kevin brings his injured younger brother to medical care and has been caring for him because no reliable parent is available.

Story Dynamics

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

• Gilles Séguin → Dr Michèle Bergeron (Conflict Treatment Disagreement) — They disagree about whether medication or relational structure should guide Tommy's treatment.

  Dr Michèle Bergeron suggests medication, while Gilles argues that medication would not teach Tommy to abandon violence.

• Gilles Séguin → Evelyne Boileau (travailleuse sociale) (Alliance Institutional Colleagues) — They cooperate as staff members at The Springboard.

  Gilles Séguin and Evelyne Boileau jointly welcome Tommy, explain the center's rules, and attempt to help him settle.

• Kevin → Tommy Leblanc (Conflict Adversarial Family Connection) — Tommy Leblanc is linked to the harm suffered by Kevin's younger brother.

  The injured boy reports being forced into a sexual act by Tommy Leblanc, leading Kevin to bring him for medical care.

Story Analysis

A troubled child's escalating institutional crisis exposes the limits of authority, treatment, and communication.

Plot Progression

1. An Injured Brother — Kevin brings his injured younger brother to medical care after a report of sexual coercion. The boy's injuries establish the film's disturbing background while Tommy Leblanc enters residential treatme...
2. Life Under Rules — At The Springboard, staff introduce Tommy to classrooms, hygiene, schedules, and institutional rules. His difficulties with reading, authority, and other boys quickly produce repeated arguments.
3. Brief Signs of Progress — Gilles challenges Tommy to understand his loss of control, while Tommy refuses responsibility and asks to leave. Cooperation with Julie and a brief request to rejoin the group suggest limited progress...
4. The Treatment Divide — Dr Michèle Bergeron proposes medication to improve communication with Tommy. Gilles rejects medication as a complete solution and emphasizes patience, structure, and affection.
5. Knives and Confinement — Staff discover hidden kitchen knives and restrain Tommy for safety. His suicide threat, accusations, and complaint threat end the story without explaining his motives or future.