Camilla

A middle-aged Venetian widow who arrives in Rome to work as a maid for the Rossetti family. She brings discreet wisdom and a steady presence, serving as the glue that holds the household together during financial and emotional upheaval. Her calm, practical nature helps the children find serenity amid tensions and rumors.

A health care physician whose ambition to improve his status is challenged by family strain. He struggles with the pressure to climb professionally, which feeds his alcohol use and makes him vulnerable to outside offers and temptations. He embodies the tension between professional aspiration and personal responsibility.

Mario's wife, a patient and protective mother to their children. She navigates marital strain and external temptations with a mix of resilience and vulnerability. Her loyalty to family is tested as infidelity and financial pressures press on the household.

One of the Rossetti children, a boy whose life is influenced by the family's upheavals. He is depicted as growing up under the care of Camilla and under the shadow of adult tensions, with his engagement later in the story signaling a move toward stability.

The Rossetti daughter, a young member of the family who experiences the strain of the adults' conflicts and the stabilizing influence of Camilla. Her presence highlights the domestic stakes and the impact of financial and romantic upheavals on children.

A seductive figure living with Gianni, depicted as a succubus who embodies temptation and social ambiguity. Her presence intensifies the moral gray areas surrounding the Rossettis and underscores the allure of illicit affairs.

An intrusive, rude family friend who moves through the Rossetti circle with unclear motives. He pitches a dubious Swiss diet venture and engages in complicated connections with Donatella and Giovanna, pushing the family toward precarious decisions.