Life Is a Bed of Roses

Conference convenor determined to unite everyone in shared ideals. He navigates a complex social landscape where Elisabeth’s demonstration of integrated teaching unsettles established norms. His role as mediator and organizer is tested as ideological disputes erupt among the delegates. He embodies pragmatic leadership under pressure.

American anthropologist whose mischievous plan to foster a romance becomes a catalyst for social experiment. She observes and influences interactions at the Institute, often blurring the line between spectator and participant. Her actions trigger outcomes that challenge others’ expectations and beliefs.

Earnest provincial schoolmistress presenting a practical method of integrated teaching. Her demonstration provokes fierce debates and ideological disputes, revealing both the appeal and limits of progressive pedagogy. She is principled and dedicated, yet finds her ideas caught in political crosscurrents.

Games expert at the Institut Holberg who participates in the conference’s social dynamics. His presence and perspective add a pragmatic counterpoint to more abstract reformist ideas. He becomes part of the interplay between play, education, and human behavior.

Wealthy nobleman who plans a grand castle as a personal sanctuary and a stage for a memory-erasing experiment. His dream of happiness is challenged when the plan is undone by Livia’s rejection and moral realization. He embodies ambition, control, and the limits of utopian schemes.

Woman whom Forbek intends to marry; she resists the potion and ultimately denounces the scheme. Livia acts as a moral counterweight to manipulation, observing the consequences of the experiment with clarity and resolve. Her rejection marks the emotional core of the narrative’s ethical tension.

Utopian architect whose ideas about designing ideal social spaces are tested within the Institute. He represents visionary thinking that meets practical constraints, highlighting the tension between dreams and implementation. His presence underscores the film’s examination of idealism in governance of education.

Army officer chosen by Livia’s circle in the 1914-1920 arc; his fate underscores the personal costs of political and romantic entanglements. His role emphasizes duty and sacrifice amid the castle’s grand experiments. He embodies the cost of adherence to a larger plan.