Castle Keep

A one-eyed, decisive leader who steadies a ragtag unit and defends Maldorais at all costs. His ruthlessness is tempered by moments of tenderness, such as his affair with the Countess. He grapples with guilt for the lives lost under his command and confronts the moral weight of his choices. His arc blends strategic cunning with personal longing.

An art expert who views the castle’s treasures as a mission’s keystone, often clashing with Falconer over strategy and preservation. He inventories and stores art beneath the castle, showing a devotion to culture that borders on fanaticism. His attractions to the Countess complicate loyalties and decisions. Ultimately, he acts to protect the artworks, even at great personal cost.

The highly intelligent narrator and observer among the soldiers, whose voice frames the story. He carries the weight of the group’s experiences, offering commentary that anchors the film’s themes of memory and fate. His perspective shapes how events are interpreted and remembered.

A baker before the war who longs for a simple life, Rossi falls in love with a baker’s widow and goes AWOL. His pre-war identity contrasts with the chaos of combat, highlighting longing and the pull of normalcy. He embodies a longing for home that war constantly disrupts.

A zealous conscientious objector turned evangelist, leading a group of hymn-singing soldiers. His faith-driven presence highlights the conflict between pacifist impulses and the brutal realities of war. He confronts the encroaching violence and becomes a symbol of moral opposition within the unit.

A quick-witted officer who participates in the improvisational defense of the castle, including stealing a German tank. His practical humor and willingness to improvise reflect the improvisational nature of frontline war. He adds a sense of resourcefulness amid chaos.

A noble, married Count who admits impotence and plots to have the Countess impregnated by Falconer to continue his line. His fragile pride and desperation reveal a different facet of aristocratic power. He ultimately becomes a suspect in a trap and is killed, exposing the costs of ambition.

The Countess, given to Falconer as a lover, embodies beauty and regal grace. Her relationship with the Major complicates loyalties and adds a human dimension to the siege. She represents the personal costs of war and the fragility of romance under pressure.