Character Relationship Map: Prologue

Characters

• Jesse (played by John Robbe) — protagonist

  Jesse edits and sells an underground newspaper on the streets of Montreal and firmly believes in direct action as a way to change the system. He is Karen's boyfriend, but their relationship is straine...

• Karen (played by Elaine Malus) — supporting

  Karen is Jesse's girlfriend, and her uncertainty between Jesse and David drives her changing relationships. She leaves Montreal to join David on a commune, but grows tired of his abstract ideas and re...

• David (played by Gary Rader) — supporting

  David is an American draft dodger interested in spiritualism whom Jesse and Karen meet. Karen leaves Montreal to join him on a commune, but eventually becomes tired of his abstract ideas and returns t...

• Karen's Father (played by Henry Gamer) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Karen's Father → Karen (father)
• Karen → David (Romantic Interest) — Karen develops a competing emotional attachment to David.

  Karen is described as being torn between Jesse and David, then leaves Montreal to join David on a commune.

• Jesse → Karen (Romantic Girlfriend) — Jesse and Karen are romantically involved, separate temporarily, and reunite at the end.

  The plot identifies Karen as Jesse's girlfriend. After leaving David, Karen returns to her life with Jesse.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jesse → David (Conflict Ideological Rival) — Their contrasting philosophies create an ideological contrast within Karen's emotional dilemma.

  Jesse believes in direct action to change the system, while David is associated with spiritualism and abstract ideas.

Story Analysis

The film contrasts direct political action, spiritual abstraction, and personal commitment through Karen's movement between Jesse and David.

Plot Progression

1. Newspaper And Convictions — Jesse edits and sells an underground newspaper on the streets of Montreal. His commitment to direct action establishes his political outlook.
2. The Spiritual Outsider — Jesse and Karen meet David, an American draft dodger interested in spiritualism. Karen becomes torn between her relationship with Jesse and her attraction to David.
3. Separate Paths — Karen leaves Montreal to join David on a commune. Jesse travels separately to Chicago for the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
4. Abstract Disillusionment — Life with David becomes unsatisfying for Karen because she grows tired of his abstract ideas. Her disappointment leads her to leave the commune.
5. Return To Montreal — Karen returns from David and goes back to her life with Jesse. The ending restores their relationship after the competing paths have been tested.