Character Relationship Map: Frank

Characters

• Frank (played by Michael Fassbender) — protagonist

  Lead vocalist of The Soronprfbs who always wears a papier-mâché mask over his head. He invites aspiring songwriter Jon to join the band and retreat to an Irish cabin. Frank struggles with severe menta...

• Jon Burroughs (played by Domhnall Gleeson) — protagonist

  An aspiring songwriter who joins The Soronprfbs as a keyboardist. He funds their Irish cabin stay, secretly promotes their music online to gain fame, and clashes with band members over creative contro...

• Clara (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) — supporting

  The band's synthesizer and theremin player who is initially wary of Jon joining. She has a volatile relationship with Jon, culminating in a heated argument and sexual encounter. She follows through on...

• Don (played by Scoot McNairy) — supporting

  The manager of The Soronprfbs who manages the band's affairs and expresses insecurity about Frank's talent. He is later revealed to be the band's original keyboardist. His body, disguised in Frank's p...

• Jon's Mother (played by Moira Brooker) — supporting
• Baraque (played by François Civil) — supporting

  The guitarist for The Soronprfbs who is initially skeptical of Jon joining the group. He quits the band shortly before their SXSW performance due to creative tensions. Later reunites with the band at...

• Jon's Father (played by Paul Butterworth) — minor
• Nana (played by Carla Azar) — supporting

  The drummer of The Soronprfbs who is hesitant about Jon's addition to the band. He steps away from the group before their SXSW appearance amid internal conflicts. He later rejoins the reunited lineup...

• Lucas (played by Shane O'Brien) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jon's Father → Jon Burroughs (father)
• Jon's Mother → Jon Burroughs (mother)
• Lucas → Don (Professional Former Bandmate) — Lucas is connected to Don through his former position in Don's managed band.

  Don explains that Lucas was the keyboardist for The Soronprfbs before Jon is invited to perform with the group.

• Don → Baraque (Professional Band Manager) — Don handles the professional affairs of Baraque's band role.

  Don manages The Soronprfbs, whose guitarist is Baraque.

• Don → Nana (Professional Band Manager) — Don oversees Nana as part of the band's managed lineup.

  Don manages The Soronprfbs, whose drummer is Nana.

• Don → Clara (Professional Band Manager) — Don manages Clara's band activities and the group's shared project.

  Don manages The Soronprfbs, and Clara is identified as one of its instrumentalists.

• Jon Burroughs → Clara (Romantic Volatile Sexual Relationship) — Their brief sexual encounter is driven by hostility and distrust rather than affection.

  After Clara confronts Jon in the hot tub, their argument culminates in angry sex.

• Jon Burroughs → Don (Professional Recruiter And Recruit) — Don introduces Jon to the band and brings him into its working circle.

  After Lucas is taken to the hospital, Don explains the band's situation and invites Jon to perform with The Soronprfbs.

• Frank → Baraque (Professional Bandmate) — They share the band's original performance and recording structure.

  Baraque plays guitar while Frank performs as lead vocalist for The Soronprfbs.

• Frank → Nana (Professional Bandmate) — They perform together in the band's original lineup.

  Nana is the drummer and Frank is the lead vocalist of The Soronprfbs.

Story Dynamics

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

• Nana → Baraque (Alliance Bandmates) — Their continuing musical partnership survives the band's collapse.

  Nana and Baraque quit before SXSW and later perform together with Clara at a dive bar.

• Clara → Baraque (Alliance Reunited Bandmates) — They form a smaller musical unit after the original lineup collapses.

  Clara, Nana, and Baraque are shown performing as a trio at a dive bar.

• Clara → Nana (Alliance Reunited Bandmates) — They continue making music together after leaving the main band.

  Clara and Nana later play together as part of a trio at a dive bar.

• Jon Burroughs → Baraque (Conflict Bandmate In Dispute) — Baraque resists Jon's influence over the band's music and direction.

  Baraque is initially skeptical of Jon joining and quits shortly before SXSW because of creative tensions.

• Jon Burroughs → Nana (Conflict Bandmate In Dispute) — Jon's arrival contributes to tensions that eventually drive Nana away.

  Nana is initially hesitant about Jon joining, and later quits the band before the SXSW performance amid internal conflicts.

Story Analysis

An aspiring songwriter's pursuit of artistic recognition leads to a painful confrontation with mental illness, control, and genuine musical connection.

Plot Progression

1. A Chance Encounter With Frank — Jon encounters Lucas's suicide attempt and is introduced to Don and The Soronprfbs. He performs with the band and receives Frank's invitation to join the project.
2. The Cabin Without An Exit — The band retreats to an Irish cabin for what becomes a year-long project. Financial pressure and Don's insecurity expose the fragile structure behind the music.
3. The Masked Death — After the debut album is completed, the band discovers Don's body disguised in Frank's mask. His cremation and hidden history deepen the band's emotional burden.
4. Fame Tears The Band Apart — Jon's secret online promotion brings the band to SXSW, but it also provokes resentment and creative conflict. Clara attacks Jon, while Nana and Baraque eventually quit.
5. The Cost Of The Mask — The SXSW performance collapses as Frank's mental health deteriorates. Jon's attempt to unmask him ends in Frank's escape and a devastating car accident.
6. Music Finds Its Way Home — Jon apologizes to the former bandmates and eventually finds Frank in Kansas. Frank returns to the dive bar, where the original Soronprfbs reunite through music.