Character Relationship Map: Invincible

Characters

• Herschel Steinschneider / Erik Jan Hanussen (played by Tim Roth) — protagonist

  An epic con-man and supposed mystic who runs a cabaret variety show. He manages Zishe by disguising him as the Aryan strongman Siegfried to appeal to Nazi clientele. He abuses Marta and later attempts...

• Zishe Breitbart (played by Jouko Ahola) — protagonist

  The protagonist, a fantastically strong Orthodox Jewish blacksmith's son from Poland. Recruited to Berlin for his strength, he performs as Siegfried under Hanussen. After a visit from his brother Benj...

• Marta Farra (played by Anna Gourari) — supporting

  An attractive stage musician and frail female pianist at Hanussen's cabaret. She is abused by her boss, who later uses her in a staged routine to falsely demonstrate his supposed mystical powers by ha...

• Mutter Breitbart (played by Renate Krößner) — supporting
• Heinrich Himmler (played by Alexander Duda) — supporting

  A top-level Nazi official whom Hanussen courts and hobnobs with, hoping to join Hitler's future government due to the regime's interest in the occult. Appears as a background figure in the political c...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Herschel Steinschneider / Erik Jan Hanussen → Heinrich Himmler (Power Political Courtship) — Hanussen cultivates Himmler as part of his attempt to gain influence with the Nazi leadership.

  Hanussen hobnobs with Himmler while seeking a place in Hitler's future government, taking advantage of the Nazis' interest in the occult.

• Marta Farra → Herschel Steinschneider / Erik Jan Hanussen (Professional Abusive Employer) — Hanussen exploits his position as Marta's boss, abuses her, and uses her in a deceptive performance to bolster his claims of mystical power.

  Marta is described as a stage musician at Hanussen's cabaret, and the plot says Hanussen abuses her. He also uses her in a staged routine to make it a...

• Zishe Breitbart → Herschel Steinschneider / Erik Jan Hanussen (Professional Manager And Performer) — Hanussen recruits and markets Zishe, but their professional relationship deteriorates when Zishe rejects the staged Aryan identity and Hanussen tries to undermine him.

  Hanussen convinces Zishe to move to Berlin and manages him as a strongman, presenting him as the Aryan performer 'Siegfried.' Later, Hanussen tries to...

• Zishe Breitbart → Mutter Breitbart (Family Mother And Son) — Mutter Breitbart is identified as Zishe's mother; the supplied plot does not describe a specific interaction between them.

  The plot identifies Zishe as the son of an Orthodox Jewish blacksmith in rural Poland, and the character list identifies Mutter Breitbart as a support...

Story Analysis

A Polish Jewish strongman rejects an imposed Aryan identity, while a con artist's political ambition and a looming catastrophe shape their fates.

Plot Progression

1. From Shtetl to Strongman Stage — Zishe's labor-built strength attracts a talent agent, who takes him from rural Poland to Berlin. Hanussen reshapes him into the Aryan-styled Siegfried for the cabaret audience.
2. A Jewish Identity Reclaimed — Zishe grows dismayed with the false identity imposed on him. His brother's visit inspires him to remove the blonde wig publicly and claim the name of a Jewish Samson.
3. Mysticism and Political Ambition — Zishe's open Jewish identity draws local Jewish audiences, while Hanussen attempts to discredit him with claims of mystical power. Hanussen pursues Nazi influence and uses Marta in a staged demonstrat...
4. Exposure, Warning, and Final Vision — Hanussen is exposed as Herschel Steinschneider and murdered by the Brownshirts. Zishe returns to Poland with a warning that is not believed, then dies from an infected wound while dreaming of his brot...