Character Relationship Map: Wunderkinder

Characters

• Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina (played by Mathilda Adamik) — protagonist

  Hanna Reich is a German girl whose childhood friendship with Abrascha Kaplan and Larissa Brodsky develops through shared music. During the occupation, she becomes trapped among Jewish civilians and ca...

• Abrascha Kaplan (played by Elin Kolev) — supporting

  Abrascha Kaplan is a brilliant Jewish violinist and musical prodigy celebrated by Soviet officials alongside Larissa Brodsky. He initially distrusts Hanna Reich but later accepts her friendship and co...

• Larissa Brodsky (played by Imogen Burrell) — supporting

  Larissa Brodsky is a Jewish musical prodigy and Abrascha Kaplan’s close performing partner. She joins Abrascha and Hanna Reich in composing and playing, forming a friendship that they vow to preserve...

• Max Reich (played by Kai Wiesinger) — supporting

  Max Reich is Hanna Reich’s father and supports the musical lessons that bring Hanna together with Abrascha Kaplan and Larissa Brodsky. His support contrasts with Helga Reich’s fears about the danger o...

• Helga Reich (played by Catherine Flemming) — supporting

  Helga Reich is Hanna Reich’s mother and warns her daughter about the consequences of associating with Jewish children. She argues that music should be pursued for its own sake rather than to impress S...

• Irina Salmonova (played by Gudrun Landgrebe) — supporting

  Irina Salmonova is taken away with Jewish civilians despite Larissa Brodsky’s pleas. Her removal and the violence surrounding the deportations become a devastating turning point for the children. Befo...

• SS-Sturmbannführer Becker (played by John Friedmann) — supporting

  SS-Sturmbannführer Becker is a German officer who recognizes Hanna Reich when she is trapped among Jewish civilians. He takes responsibility for Hanna, Abrascha Kaplan, and Larissa Brodsky, but they a...

• SS-Standartenführer Schwartow (played by Konstantin Wecker) — supporting

  SS-Standartenführer Schwartow is a German officer whose assurances of safety to Jewish families prove meaningless during the occupation. Families are separated, and elderly Jewish people are slaughter...

• Hanna Reich im Alter (played by Brigitte Grothum) — minor
• Oberst Tapilin (played by Rolf Kanies) — minor

  Oberst Tapilin is an officer at the railway station during the German invasion. He helps some civilians board a crowded train, although many people are left behind. His brief intervention reflects the...

Canonical Relationships

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

• SS-Sturmbannführer Becker → Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina (Power Controller) — Becker controls Hanna's status and immediate fate during the occupation.

  Becker recognizes Hanna among Jewish civilians and takes responsibility for her, Abrascha, and Larissa.

• SS-Standartenführer Schwartow → Larissa Brodsky (Power Oppressor) — His authority places Larissa and her family under persecution.

  Schwartow's deportation operation separates Jewish families, including Larissa's community, while Larissa pleads for Irina.

• Max Reich → Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina (Family Father And Daughter) — Max supports Hanna's musical interests and her lessons.

  Max Reich is identified as Hanna's father and is described as supporting the children's music lessons.

• Helga Reich → Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina (Family Mother And Daughter) — Helga is protective but fearful of the consequences of Hanna's friendship.

  Helga Reich is identified as Hanna's mother and warns her against associating with the Jewish children.

• Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina → Hanna Reich im Alter (Family Granddaughter And Grandmother) — Nina helps her grandmother respond to the mysterious message about Abrascha.

  The present-day opening identifies Nina as Hanna Reich im Alter's granddaughter and shows Nina welcoming her grandmother to a postponed press meeting.

Story Dynamics

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

• Oberst Tapilin → Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina (Alliance Civilian Protector) — Tapilin provides limited assistance during the evacuation crisis.

  At the railway station, Oberst Tapilin helps some civilians board a crowded train while Hanna and others face the danger of being left behind.

• SS-Sturmbannführer Becker → Larissa Brodsky (Conflict Coercer) — Becker exercises direct power over Larissa's survival and performance.

  Becker takes responsibility for Larissa and later orders her to perform for German officers while the children remain under forced labor conditions.

• SS-Sturmbannführer Becker → Abrascha Kaplan (Conflict Coercer) — Becker exploits Abrascha's musical ability under coercive conditions.

  Becker takes responsibility for Abrascha and later orders him to perform for German officers while he is being forced into labor.

• SS-Standartenführer Schwartow → Irina Salmonova (Conflict Persecutor) — Schwartow represents the deceptive and violent occupation authority.

  Schwartow gives assurances of safety while Jewish families are gathered, but Irina is taken away and elderly Jews are slaughtered.

• Irina Salmonova → Larissa Brodsky (Social Protective Elder) — Irina is an important moral influence on Larissa and the other children.

  Larissa pleads when Irina is taken away, and the children later remember Irina's call to fight for those they love.

• Abrascha Kaplan → Larissa Brodsky (Alliance Musical Partner) — They cooperate as young musicians and remain united during persecution.

  Abrascha and Larissa are celebrated together as musical prodigies and perform and compose with Hanna.

• Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina → Larissa Brodsky (Social Childhood Friend) — Larissa becomes part of Hanna's close wartime friendship circle.

  Hanna gradually joins Abrascha and Larissa in composing and playing, and later shelters together with both children.

• Hanna Reich / Enkelin Nina → Abrascha Kaplan (Social Childhood Friend) — Their childhood friendship becomes the emotional center of Hanna's memories.

  Hanna hears Abrascha perform, gradually joins him and Larissa in composing and playing, and later searches for him after receiving a message recalling...

Story Analysis

A remembered childhood friendship survives musical persecution, war, deportation, and coercion.

Plot Progression

1. The Message From the Past — Nina welcomes her grandmother to a postponed press meeting. A mysterious message about the Queen of Fish revives Hanna's memories of Abrascha and sends Nina to find him.
2. Music Across Divides — In Poltava, Abrascha and Larissa are celebrated as prodigies. Hanna enters their musical world, while Helga warns against the dangers of her friendship with Jewish children.
3. The War Separates Them — The German invasion destroys the children's secure life and forces Abrascha's family to flee. The railway evacuation leaves civilians behind, pushing Hanna, Abrascha, and Larissa into hiding.
4. The Station of Betrayal — Jewish elders are gathered at the station under false assurances of safety. Larissa cannot prevent Irina's removal, and the wider persecution separates families and kills elderly Jews.
5. Music Under Occupation — Hanna is recognized while hiding among Jewish civilians, and Becker assumes control of the three children. Forced labor and a performance for German officers test their friendship, memory, and hope.