Character Relationship Map: Another Year

Characters

• Tom (played by Jim Broadbent) — protagonist

  An older geologist and the husband of Gerri. He maintains a comfortable, loving relationship with his wife while navigating the lives of their unhappy friends and family. He hosts social gatherings, a...

• Mary (played by Lesley Manville) — protagonist

  A middle-aged divorcee and receptionist who is Gerri's friend and colleague. She struggles with depression and loneliness, often masking it with false happiness. She drinks excessively, experiences ro...

• Gerri (played by Ruth Sheen) — supporting

  A counsellor and the wife of Tom. She shares a stable, affectionate marriage while managing the emotional turmoil of her circle. She confronts Mary's rude behavior, later offers compassion and practic...

• Ken (played by Peter Wight) — supporting

  An overweight, unhappy old friend of Tom. He compulsively consumes food, alcohol, and tobacco. He visits the Hepples for a summer barbecue, where he makes an awkward romantic advance that Mary firmly...

• Joe (played by Oliver Maltman) — supporting

  The thirty-year-old only child of Tom and Gerri, working as a housing solicitor. He is single but in a stable relationship with Katie. He remains polite but uninterested when Mary flirts with him, and...

• Tom's Colleague (played by Stuart McQuarrie) — minor

Key Relationships

• Tom's Colleague → Tom (colleague)
• Mary → Joe (Romantic Unrequited Attraction)
• Mary → Ken (Romantic Rejected Suitor)
• Gerri → Ken (Social Host)
• Tom → Ken (Social Old Friend)
• Gerri → Mary (Social Friend)
• Tom → Mary (Social Acquaintance)
• Gerri → Joe (Family Mother)
• Tom → Joe (Family Father)
• Tom → Gerri (Family Spouse)

Story Analysis

A seasonal exploration of interconnected lives, contrasting stable relationships with personal isolation and grief.

Plot Progression

1. Spring and Summer Beginnings
2. Autumn Tensions
3. Winter Crisis
4. Resolution and Reflection