Character Relationship Map: The Five Devils

Characters

• Joanne Soler (played by Adèle Exarchopoulos) — protagonist

  Joanne is Vicky’s mother and the person with whom the child shares a very strong bond. Vicky captures and reproduces Joanne’s scent, preserving it in her collection of labelled jars. The story also re...

• Vicky Soler (played by Sally Dramé) — supporting

  Vicky is the solitary child at the center of the story, gifted with the ability to smell and reproduce any scent she chooses. After capturing Julia’s scent, she is transported into dark, magical memor...

• Julia Soler (played by Swala Emati) — supporting

  Julia is the sister of Vicky’s father, recently released from prison when she enters Vicky’s family life. Vicky begins reproducing Julia’s scent, which triggers her passage into memories of the past....

• Jimmy Soler (played by Moustapha Mbengue) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jimmy Soler → Joanne Soler (Family Husband And Wife) — The tension surrounding Joanne and Julia provokes Jimmy's anger, and his distress intensifies as Joanne goes missing.

  The reference identifies Jimmy as Joanne's husband and says he reacts angrily to the growing strain and to what he understands about Joanne and Julia.

• Jimmy Soler → Vicky Soler (Family Father And Daughter) — Jimmy is Vicky's father, though the reference focuses on his distress over the adult conflict rather than on a specific interaction between him and Vicky.

  The character profile identifies Jimmy as Vicky's father. The reference places him in the family household and describes his reaction to its growing s...

• Julia Soler → Vicky Soler (Family Aunt And Niece) — Vicky grows close to Julia and is drawn to her proposal that they leave for Marseille together, though the plan remains uncertain.

  The reference says Julia is Joanne's younger sister and that Vicky becomes attached to her aunt after Julia returns.

• Joanne Soler → Julia Soler (Romantic Former Lovers) — Their past love affair resurfaces when Julia returns, unsettling Joanne's household and shaping the possibility of Julia and Vicky leaving together.

  Joanne's character profile states that the story reveals her past love affair with Julia. The reference also describes their complicated shared histor...

• Joanne Soler → Vicky Soler (Family Mother And Daughter) — Joanne supports Vicky's unusual ability and defends her when others blame her, while Vicky fears losing her mother's place in her life.

  The reference identifies Joanne as Vicky's mother and says she encourages Vicky to trust her unusual sense of smell. Joanne also challenges adults who...

Story Dynamics

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

• Julia Soler → Jimmy Soler (Family Conflict) — Julia's return and her history with Joanne contribute to the strain that Jimmy reacts to, although the reference gives no specific direct confrontation between them.

  The reference says Jimmy reacts angrily to the growing strain and to what he understands about Joanne and Julia.

Story Analysis

Vicky's unusual ability and attachment to her family bring her into the unresolved history between Joanne and Julia, as the household faces an uncertain separation.

Plot Progression

1. A Gift Under Suspicion — Vicky's unusual sense of smell sets her apart at school. When four children are found unconscious, suspicion falls on her, and Joanne defends her daughter's right to speak.
2. Julia's Return — Julia returns after years apart, disturbing the household and drawing Vicky close to her. Julia joins the local gymnastics group, while Vicky senses unresolved history between the sisters.
3. An Invitation to Leave — Vicky speaks of seeing a frightening girl, and Julia proposes leaving for Marseille after the Christmas gala. Jimmy reacts angrily to the growing strain and what he understands about Joanne and Julia.
4. Absence at the Gala — Vicky voices her fear of losing her place in Joanne's life, and Uno's death adds to the family's distress. Joanne is missing on the day Julia is expected to leave; the final performance ends without r...