Character Relationship Map: Comédie

Characters

• La femme (F 1) (played by Eléonore Hirt) — protagonist

  La femme is the central narrator of the affair with L'homme. She forgives him, hopes they will leave together, then becomes consumed by jealousy when his visits stop and he disappears. She visits La m...

• L'homme (M) (played by Michael Lonsdale) — supporting

  L'homme is La femme's lover and the focus of her hopes and suspicions. He appears distraught, tells her that La maîtresse had him followed, and denies having a relationship with the other woman. He co...

• La maîtresse (F 2) (played by Delphine Seyrig) — supporting

  La maîtresse is the rival who accuses La femme of taking her man and threatens violence unless she gives him up. She insists that she can smell L'homme on La femme. Her actions include having L'homme...

Canonical Relationships

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

• L'homme (M) → La maîtresse (F 2) (Romantic Lovers) — La maîtresse claims a romantic connection with L'homme, while he denies it to La femme; the account does not resolve what their relationship truly is.

  La maîtresse calls L'homme her man and says she can smell him on La femme. L'homme denies that anything is going on between him and La maîtresse.

• La femme (F 1) → L'homme (M) (Romantic Lovers) — La femme is deeply attached to L'homme and hopes they will eventually leave together. His visits stop, leaving her to wonder what happened to him.

  La femme recounts an affair with L'homme, and they continue their relationship after she forgives him.

Story Dynamics

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

• La femme (F 1) → La maîtresse (F 2) (Conflict Jealous Rivals) — Their conflict centers on L'homme. La femme tries to soothe La maîtresse, but jealousy and suspicion persist between them.

  La maîtresse accuses La femme of taking her man and threatens violence if La femme does not give him up. La femme later concludes that La maîtresse ha...

Story Analysis

A woman revisits an affair shaped by jealousy and abandonment, ending in uncertain memories and unanswered questions.

Plot Progression

1. An Affair Under Suspicion — La femme recounts her affair with L'homme while suspecting he may be seeing someone else. La maîtresse confronts her, makes accusations, and is shown out without being convinced.
2. Denial and Forgiveness — L'homme arrives distraught and explains that La maîtresse had him followed. He denies an affair with her, and La femme forgives him while imagining a shared future.
3. The Visits Cease — La femme's suspicions return as L'homme stops visiting and then disappears. She concludes that La maîtresse has won, but finds the rival's home shut up.
4. Memories Without Answers — La femme burns L'homme's belongings and retreats into solitary reflections. She imagines what became of the other two, questions her own state of mind, and ends addressing an unseen listener without r...