Character Relationship Map: Bed and Board

Characters

• Antoine Doinel (played by Jean-Pierre Léaud) — protagonist

  Semi-autobiographical French New Wave protagonist navigating love, work, and adulthood in Paris.

• Christine Doinel (played by Claude Jade) — protagonist

  Christine after marriage, continuing as Antoine's wife and violin teacher.

• Kyoko (played by Hiroko Matsumoto) — supporting

  A Japanese exchange student and Antoine's brief love interest in Antoine and Colette.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Antoine Doinel → Christine Doinel (Family Husband) — Married couple navigating domestic life and later separation.

  Antoine and Christine are married and living in a small apartment in Paris; they have a baby boy named Alphonse.

• Kyoko → Antoine Doinel (Romantic Lover) — Brief romantic affair initiated by Antoine's gesture of returning Kyoko's bracelet.

  Kyoko and Antoine begin an affair after he returns her bracelet; she falls deeply in love with him, unaware he is married.

Story Dynamics

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

• Christine Doinel → Kyoko (Conflict Rival) — Christine's discovery of Kyoko's notes leads to marital conflict.

  Christine discovers Kyoko's love notes hidden in tulip petals, revealing the affair.

Story Analysis

A married man's affair and eventual reconciliation with his wife.

Plot Progression

1. Domestic Beginnings — Antoine and Christine are married, living in a small Paris apartment. Antoine loses his dye job and finds a new one at a hydraulics company through a misunderstanding.
2. The Affair Begins — Antoine meets Kyoko, returns her bracelet, and starts an affair. Kyoko sends tulips with love notes, which Christine eventually discovers.
3. Marital Breakdown — Christine banishes Antoine, who moves to a hotel. He grows bored with Kyoko and seeks comfort elsewhere, leading to a confrontation at dinner.
4. Separation and Reconciliation — Kyoko leaves Antoine. After a year, Antoine and Christine reunite and raise their son, with neighbours believing they are truly in love.