Character Relationship Map: Small World

Characters

• Conrad Lang (played by Gérard Depardieu) — protagonist

  Conrad Lang is an elderly family relative whose recent memory is failing while childhood memories remain vivid. After a fire, he returns claiming to have used a secret door and recounts seemingly impo...

• Simone Senn (played by Alexandra Maria Lara) — protagonist

  Simone Senn is Philippe’s wife and a thoughtful member of the family trying to help Conrad recover his buried memories. She secretly copies photographs from a Venice trip and shows them to him, while...

• Thomas Senn (played by Niels Arestrup) — supporting

  Thomas Senn is Elisabeth’s husband and a member of the family gathered around the wedding and Conrad’s crisis. He is initially drunk, doubts Conrad’s memories, and believes professional care is necess...

• Elisabeth Senn (played by Nathalie Baye) — supporting

  Elisabeth Senn returns from Boston and recognizes that Conrad’s apparent confusion is connected to their shared past. She admits abandoning him and marrying Thomas for security while Conrad was pushed...

• Philippe Senn (played by Yannick Renier) — supporting

  Philippe Senn marries Simone as the story begins, but their relationship soon becomes strained. Simone suspects him of infidelity, while Philippe insists that she keep the child if she is pregnant. Hi...

• Elvira's mother (played by Rachel Eberhart) — minor
• Elvira Senn (played by Françoise Fabian) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Elvira's mother → Elvira Senn (mother)
• Simone Senn → Thomas Senn (Family Connection) — They interact within the family circle, though the plot reference does not specify their precise kinship.

  Simone is present at the family gathering where Thomas's drunkenness and the family's old resentments are described.

• Philippe Senn → Elisabeth Senn (Family Connection) — They are presented as members of the same family gathering, but the plot reference does not specify their precise kinship.

  Philippe and Simone's wedding is attended by the family, including Elisabeth, who has returned from Boston.

• Elisabeth Senn → Conrad Lang (Former Romantic Connection) — Their unresolved history fuels Elisabeth's guilt and Conrad's emotional attachment.

  Elisabeth admits that she once abandoned Conrad and married Thomas, while Conrad recognizes her and acts as if their past is still close to him.

• Elisabeth Senn → Thomas Senn (Family Husband And Wife) — Their marriage is part of the unresolved past surrounding Conrad.

  Elisabeth says she abandoned Conrad and married Thomas, choosing security.

• Philippe Senn → Simone Senn (Family Husband And Wife) — Their marriage is strained by Philippe's suspected infidelity and disagreement over Simone's possible pregnancy.

  The story opens at Philippe and Simone's wedding, and the plot later describes tensions in their marriage.

Story Dynamics

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

• Simone Senn → Elisabeth Senn (Social Confidantes) — Simone trusts Elisabeth with a personal concern during a difficult period in her marriage.

  Simone confides in Elisabeth about the possibility that she is pregnant before telling Philippe.

• Simone Senn → Conrad Lang (Alliance Supporter) — Simone actively helps Conrad reconnect with his past through photographs.

  Simone makes copies of old Venice photographs and shows them to Conrad in the hope of reaching his buried memories.

• Thomas Senn → Conrad Lang (Alliance Reluctant Caregiver) — Thomas balances concern about Conrad's condition with resistance to taking him into the household.

  Thomas believes Conrad needs professional care, but ultimately agrees that Conrad can stay in the guest cottage.

Story Analysis

A family confronts failing memory and unresolved history as photographs reconnect Conrad with a past others had doubted.

Plot Progression

1. A Wedding Interrupted — Philippe and Simone's wedding brings the family together, but Thomas's drunkenness and old resentments strain the celebration. After a fire at the house, Conrad appears and speaks of a secret entrance...
2. Memories Out of Time — Conrad recalls Venice and recognizes Elisabeth, while Thomas questions the stories. The family learns that Conrad's recent memory is failing and considers what care he needs.
3. The Past Resurfaces — Conrad refuses to leave with Elisabeth, and Thomas agrees to let him stay in the guest cottage. Elisabeth admits that she abandoned Conrad and married Thomas, exposing the guilt and conflict beneath t...
4. Photographs and Recognition — Simone uses copied Venice photographs to help Conrad reach his memories while privately facing uncertainty in her marriage and a possible pregnancy. Conrad recalls details of the Hotel Danieli, leavin...