Kaleidoscope

Wealthy and aging, Arthur is haunted by a past he seeks to repair. His resolve to reunite his long-lost daughters drives much of the narrative, even as his mortality sharpens the stakes. He embodies a reconciliatory impulse, willing to face painful truths for the sake of family.

A private detective who travels across the country to locate the sisters. Persistent and pragmatic, he pushes for truth even when it may disappoint. His alliance with Arthur becomes the catalyst for the sisters’ eventual confrontation with their past.

Head of a Manhattan firm who has built a guarded, successful life. She carries deep wounds from her past with an abusive aunt and uncle and is initially resistant to revisiting it. Her evolving relationship with John adds a complicated layer to the reunion.

The middle sister, married to a Senator, living a life of social visibility. She discovers she was adopted and confronts questions about belonging and loyalty. Her arc preserves dignity while pushing toward openness with her sisters.

The youngest sister, a doctor who has known about her adoption from the start. She navigates personal longing, including miscarriages, while remaining open to reunion and truth.

Mother figure who married Sam and settled in New York after the war. Her past is a touchstone throughout the film, reflecting the complexities of love, sacrifice, and motherhood.

Adoptive mother to Alexandra in South Carolina, she becomes a protective but conflicted intermediary who must decide how to reveal the truth without wrecking a political life.

Solange's husband and a father figure to the sisters, whose Broadway life and subsequent fate are part of the sorrow that binds the family’s past to the present.

A Senator and Alexandra’s husband, concerned about the scandal potential of discovering the truth. His stance highlights the political pressures surrounding family secrets.

Hilary’s assistant who helps uncover the past. Her role marks the practical impact of memory on present-day life and professional spheres.

A secondary figure connected to the sisters’ world, contributing to the broader sense of family network and the reach of the past into the present.

The youngest generation’s link to the past, representing the ongoing impact of history on family lines and future generations.

A younger version of Arthur, shown in flashbacks to his World War II years in France, illustrating his early choices and their long shadows.

A young version of Hilary, appearing in flashbacks to reveal how childhood experiences shaped the adult she becomes.