Character Relationship Map: Madness

Characters

• Liliana (played by Patrizia Behn) — protagonist

  The visiting matriarch who becomes a primary hostage, survives the psychological and physical ordeal, and delivers the fatal shot that ends the film.

• Sergio (played by Gianni Macchia) — supporting

  Liliana's husband and Paola's secret lover, whose hidden relationship is exploited by Joe, creating intense tension that leads to his execution.

• Paola (played by Lorraine De Selle) — supporting

  The seductive sister-in-law and Sergio's lover, kidnapped by Joe and forced into labor and sexual coercion before being executed alongside Sergio.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Liliana → Sergio (Family Husband And Wife) — Their marriage is destabilized by Sergio's affair and the violent events at the house.

  The plot identifies Sergio as Liliana's husband. They arrive at the house together and later remain connected during the hostage ordeal.

• Sergio → Paola (Romantic Secret Lovers) — Their hidden affair creates the central emotional betrayal within the household.

  Sergio and Paola pretend to argue to mislead Liliana, while the plot explicitly states that they are having an affair.

• Liliana → Paola (Family Sisters) — Their family bond becomes part of the shared hostage situation.

  The plot states that Liliana arrives with her sister Paola. Both women are tied together after Liliana returns from town.

Story Analysis

An escaped prisoner invades a country house, exploits a hidden affair, and is ultimately killed by the surviving hostage.

Plot Progression

1. Escape and Predatory Entry — A prisoner escapes, commits roadside violence, and obtains a car. He uses deception to gather information before entering a nearby house.
2. A House of Hidden Betrayal — Liliana, Paola, and Sergio arrive at the house and conceal the affair between Paola and Sergio. Their domestic performance collapses when the escaped prisoner takes control of the property.
3. Captivity Beneath the Fireplace — Paola is abducted and forced to dig beneath the fireplace. Liliana and Sergio return separately and are also drawn into the captivity and forced labor.
4. Exposure and Coercion — The affair is revealed to Liliana, while Paola and Sergio are subjected to sexual coercion under threat of a shotgun. Their attempted resistance fails.
5. The Survivor Fires Back — Paola and Sergio are shot, and the escaped prisoner proposes that Liliana flee with him. When he leaves the shotgun behind, Liliana uses it to kill him.