Character Relationship Map: Looking for Alibrandi

Characters

• Christina Alibrandi (played by Greta Scacchi) — supporting

  Christina Alibrandi is Josie Alibrandi's mother, who gave birth to her out of wedlock at seventeen and raised her without Michael Andretti knowing about the child. Her difficult relationship with Kati...

• Michael Andretti (played by Anthony LaPaglia) — supporting

  Michael Andretti is Josie Alibrandi's biological father, a lawyer who has been living and working in Adelaide. After learning that Christina Alibrandi had his child, he initially faces Josie's relucta...

• John Barton (played by Matthew Newton) — supporting

  John Barton is Josie Alibrandi's friend and a student at St Anthony's College, the brother school of St Martha's. Josie has unspoken romantic feelings for him. As the son of an influential politician,...

• Katia Alibrandi (played by Elena Cotta) — supporting

  Katia Alibrandi is Josie Alibrandi's grandmother and Christina Alibrandi's mother. She frequently argues with Josie, but later reveals that Francesco was abusive and that Marcus Sandford was Christina...

• Jacob Coote (played by Kick Gurry) — supporting

  Jacob Coote is a rebellious and charismatic public school student whom Josie Alibrandi meets at an interschool debate. Although their personalities clash and they first decide not to continue dating,...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Katia Alibrandi → Michael Andretti (Family Connection)

  Katia's family secret concerns Christina's parentage, while Michael is Christina's former partner and the discovered parent of the younger generation.

• Christina Alibrandi → Katia Alibrandi (Family Mother And Daughter)

  Katia is Christina's mother, and the two frequently argue over family history and past treatment.

• Christina Alibrandi → Michael Andretti (Romantic Former Lovers)

  Christina gave birth to their child after a relationship with Michael, but never told him about the pregnancy.

Story Dynamics

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

• Christina Alibrandi → John Barton (Social Family Acquaintances)

  John is a close school friend of Christina's child, making him known within the family and central to the emotional crisis after his death.

• John Barton → Michael Andretti (Social Community Connection)

  John's death deeply affects the younger person's family situation, including the period when Michael becomes a more present parent.

• John Barton → Jacob Coote (Social Acquaintances)

  Both attend schools involved in inter-school activities, and Jacob becomes part of the social circle affected by John's death.

• Katia Alibrandi → Jacob Coote (Social Family Acquaintance)

  Jacob's relationship with the younger family member places him within the family circle during the later part of the story.

• Christina Alibrandi → Jacob Coote (Social Family Acquaintance)

  Jacob becomes romantically involved with the younger member of Christina's family during the final school year.

• Michael Andretti → Jacob Coote (Social Protective Adult)

  Michael becomes more involved in the younger person's life after learning about his child and helping with a legal problem.

Story Analysis

A teenager confronts cultural prejudice, grief, hidden family history, and the possibility of reconciliation.

Plot Progression

1. A Divided School World
2. An Absent Parent Returns
3. Grief Changes Everything
4. A Father Steps Forward
5. Secrets Become Understanding