Dear Brigitte

A college professor and devoted arts advocate, he champions poetry, painting, and music within his family. He grows wary that Erasmus’s extraordinary math talent could eclipse a normal childhood for his son. When Erasmus becomes entangled in a campus betting ring, the Professor faces a crisis of ethics and loyalty. His decision to help establish the Leaf Foundation shows his belief in directing talent toward social good.

A mathematically gifted eight-year-old who is tone-deaf and colorblind, Ras processes numbers with astonishing speed. He longs for a normal childhood, even as his gifts pull him into public scrutiny. He quietly helps arrange bets and uses the money to fund his stamp collection and letters to Brigitte Bardot. The conflict between his love of math and his desire for ordinary life drives a core moral tension in the story.

Eighteen-year-old Pandora is socially vibrant, using Erasmus to do her math homework while financing her circle with the money. Her relationship with Ken Taylor ties her to the campus betting ring, complicating the family’s ethical concerns. She acts as a catalyst for the unfolding conflict between talent, money, and moral choices. Her actions help drive the family toward the Leaf Foundation’s endowment plan.

A charismatic physician and potential benefactor who proposes the Leaf Foundation to fund liberal arts. In truth, he is a con artist using Foundation funds for his own ends, catalyzing both inspiration and danger for Erasmus and the Leafs. He embodies the seductive lure of philanthropy that can mask exploitation. His scheme creates the film’s central moral test.

A real-life film icon whom Erasmus adores, representing a doorway to the broader world beyond the houseboat and campus. He meeting her becomes a pivotal moment of romanticized aspiration, and she accepts his autograph while gifting him a puppy. Her presence anchors Erasmus’s dream of artistic inspiration abroad. The encounter helps frame the tension between fantasy and reality.

Often called Kenny, he is Pandora’s boyfriend and the organizer of the campus betting ring. He leverages Erasmus’s arithmetic to rig bets for profit, pulling the Leafs into a moral quandary. His actions threaten the family’s trust and the legitimacy of the Leaf Foundation. He embodies the cynical commercialization of talent.

The university Dean is a figure of authority who becomes entangled in Erasmus’s testing and the surrounding betting controversy. He pushes the Professor and ultimately supports the Leaf Foundation’s endowment, signaling institutional endorsement of the family’s mission. His stance frames campus governance and accountability within the story.

A seasoned narrator who lives with the Leafs on the houseboat, providing a steady, guiding voice throughout the tale. He observes family dynamics and acts as a tether to the bohemian atmosphere of their home life. His narration links the maritime, free-spirited world to the arts-focused narrative.

Erasmus’s mother and a steadfast advocate for the arts, she actively seeks a normal life for her son while nurturing his talents. She balances tenderness with concern about the ethical use of Erasmus’s gifts. Her partnership with Robert Leaf underpins the Leaf Foundation’s artistic mission.