Character Relationship Map: Beneath the Surface

Characters

• Sandra (played by Johanna Sällström) — protagonist

  Sandra is a young woman struggling with heroin addiction and estrangement from her family. After an overdose, she rejects her worried father and repeatedly fails to leave her volatile boyfriend, Roffe...

• Jannika (played by Tove Appelqvist) — protagonist

  Jannika is Sandra's younger sister, whose piano lessons and birthday plans hint at a safer, more ordinary life. She seeks out Sandra, but Roffe also draws her into his orbit by offering her work and t...

• Roffe (played by Mikael Persbrandt) — supporting

  Roffe is Sandra's volatile boyfriend, who repeatedly pulls her back into his world despite her attempts to leave. He talks about making money and escaping to Thailand, offers Jannika a job, and taunts...

• Nils Lundgren, Sandra's father (played by Lennart Jähkel) — supporting

  Nils Lundgren is Sandra's worried father. After Sandra is revived from a heroin overdose and taken to the hospital, he shows concern for her, but she rejects him. His strained relationship with Sandra...

• Mrs. Lundgren, Sandra's mother (played by Elisabeth von Gerber) — supporting

  Mrs. Lundgren is Sandra and Jannika's mother. When Jannika is hospitalized in a coma, she comes to the ward but is turned away by staff. Her presence at the hospital links the family to the crisis, wh...

• Johansson, drug enforcement policeman (played by Liam Norberg) — cameo

  Johansson is a drug enforcement policeman whom Sandra contacts after learning about a heroin deal. She tells him what she knows and asks for something in return. His role connects Sandra's attempt to...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sandra → Mrs. Lundgren, Sandra's mother (Family Mother And Daughter) — They are both affected by Jannika's crisis, but the plot provides little detail about their direct interaction.

  The plot identifies Mrs. Lundgren as Sandra's mother. At Jannika's hospital ward, Sandra tries to get inside while her mother is turned away by staff.

• Sandra → Nils Lundgren, Sandra's father (Family Father And Daughter) — Nils's concern is met with Sandra's rejection, reflecting the estrangement between father and daughter.

  The plot identifies Nils Lundgren as Sandra's father and says Sandra rejects him when he is worried about her at the hospital.

• Sandra → Roffe (Romantic Volatile Partners) — Their turbulent relationship repeatedly draws Sandra back into Roffe's world, even as she tries to protect her sister from his influence.

  Roffe is described as Sandra's boyfriend. Sandra repeatedly tries to leave him, briefly reunites with him, and later confronts him about Jannika.

• Sandra → Jannika (Family Sisters) — Sandra tries to protect Jannika from the drug-tainted life around Roffe, but their arguments and Jannika's eventual coma deepen Sandra's anguish.

  The plot identifies Jannika as Sandra's younger sister. Sandra warns her to go home, apologizes after lashing out, and later learns that Jannika is in...

Story Dynamics

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

• Sandra → Johansson, drug enforcement policeman (Alliance Informant And Drug Enforcement Officer) — Sandra offers information about a heroin deal in exchange for something, bringing Johansson and the police into her conflict with Roffe.

  Sandra contacts Johansson, identified as a drug enforcement policeman, says she knows about a heroin deal, and asks for something in return.

• Jannika → Roffe (Conflict Exploitative Pursuer) — Roffe draws Jannika toward his world and drugs, prompting Sandra to demand that he never touch her sister again.

  Roffe offers Jannika a job, encourages her to see herself as an adult, and later taunts her with drugs, which she begs him to give her. Sandra's chara...

Story Analysis

Sandra's attempts to escape addiction and protect Jannika are undermined by her turbulent bond with Roffe, culminating in a family crisis.

Plot Progression

1. An Overdose and Estrangement — Sandra survives a heroin overdose and rejects her worried father at the hospital. Her reconnection with Jannika briefly suggests the possibility of a safer, more ordinary life.
2. Pulled Back Into Roffe's World — Roffe talks about making money and leaving for Thailand, while Sandra's attempts to leave him do not last. Jannika becomes increasingly exposed to his influence, and the sisters' relationship grows st...
3. Jannika Drawn Toward Drugs — Roffe offers Jannika a job and later taunts her with drugs, which she begs him for. Sandra warns her sister and confronts Roffe about keeping away from Jannika.
4. The Deal and the Escape — Sandra contacts Johansson with information about a heroin deal and asks for something in return. After Sandra and Roffe briefly reunite, police move in, and Roffe escapes from the airport after injuri...
5. The Hospital Ward — Sandra learns that Jannika is in a coma and tries to reach her at the hospital. Her mother is turned away, and Sandra confronts Roffe in anguish while Jannika remains unconscious.