Character Relationship Map: Going and Coming Back

Characters

• Hélène Rivière (played by Annie Girardot) — protagonist

  Hélène Rivière is Roland Rivière's wife and a co-owner of the château in Burgundy. She shelters Simon Lerner, Sarah Lerner, Saloman Lerner, and Salomé Lerner after they flee Paris, then devises a fict...

• Roland Rivière (played by Jean-Louis Trintignant) — supporting

  Roland Rivière is Hélène Rivière's husband and one of the two men working in medicine who first befriend Simon Lerner and Sarah Lerner. When war reaches Paris, he and Hélène leave for their Burgundian...

• Sarah Lerner (played by Françoise Fabian) — supporting

  Sarah Lerner is Simon Lerner's wife and Salomé Lerner's mother. She initially lives discreetly with her family in Paris as they try to avoid wartime raids, then escapes with them to the Rivière châtea...

• Simon Lerner (played by Michel Piccoli) — supporting

  Simon Lerner is Sarah Lerner's husband and Salomé Lerner's father, and he works in the medical field alongside Roland Rivière. After the Lerner family flees Paris, he accepts refuge at the Rivière châ...

• Salomé Lerner (played by Évelyne Bouix) — supporting

  Salomé Lerner is Simon Lerner and Sarah Lerner's daughter and the central figure of the story. Vincent Rivière falls in love with her, but she does not return his feelings; she later becomes part of a...

• Saloman Lerner (played by Erik Berchot) — supporting

  Saloman Lerner is a member of the Lerner family who takes refuge with the Rivière family in Burgundy. Confined to the château for safety, he tries to pass the time at the Rivière piano by playing Rach...

• Vincent Rivière (played by Richard Anconina) — supporting

  Vincent Rivière is Hélène Rivière and Roland Rivière's son. He falls in love with Salomé Lerner, although she repeatedly avoids his unwanted courtship. To protect the Lerner family and legitimize thei...

• German officer (played by Pierre Semmler) — minor

  The German officer represents the wartime authorities who arrive at the Rivière château after the Lerner family has taken refuge there. He participates in the arrest of Simon Lerner, Sarah Lerner, Sal...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Saloman Lerner → Salomé Lerner (Family Member)

  The plot presents Saloman as part of the Lerner family and states that Salomé is the sole survivor of that family after the arrests.

• Vincent Rivière → Salomé Lerner (Romantic Unrequited Love)

  Vincent falls in love with Salomé, but the plot states that his feelings are not reciprocated and that she avoids him.

• Hélène Rivière → Vincent Rivière (Family Mother)

  Vincent is described as the Rivière son, and Hélène is part of the Rivière household that owns the château.

• Roland Rivière → Vincent Rivière (Family Father)

  Vincent is explicitly described as the Rivière son, while Roland is one of the Rivière household owners.

• Simon Lerner → Salomé Lerner (Family Father)

  The plot identifies Salomé as the daughter of Simon and Sarah Lerner.

• Sarah Lerner → Salomé Lerner (Family Mother)

  The plot identifies Salomé as the daughter of Simon and Sarah Lerner.

Story Dynamics

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

• German officer → Saloman Lerner (Conflict Persecutor)

  The German police arrest the Lerners at the château, including Saloman.

• German officer → Salomé Lerner (Conflict Persecutor)

  The German police arrive at the château and arrest the Lerners, while Salomé is later described as the sole surviving family member.

• German officer → Sarah Lerner (Conflict Persecutor)

  The German police arrest the Lerner family at the château, including Sarah.

• German officer → Simon Lerner (Conflict Persecutor)

  German police arrive at the château and arrest the Lerners, including Simon.

• Hélène Rivière → Salomé Lerner (Alliance Protector)

  Hélène proposes fictitiously engaging Vincent and Salomé to legitimize the Lerners' presence among the villagers.

• Hélène Rivière → Sarah Lerner (Social Friend)

  In 1939, Hélène and Roland Rivière befriend Sarah and Simon Lerner.

• Roland Rivière → Simon Lerner (Social Friend)

  In 1939, Roland and Hélène Rivière befriend Simon and Sarah Lerner.

Story Analysis

A survivor reconstructs a wartime family tragedy through memory, refuge, betrayal, and a return to the place where the loss began.

Plot Progression

1. A Friendship Before The Storm
2. Flight To The Château
3. A Dangerous Disguise
4. Arrest And Aftermath