Nouvelle Vague

Wealthy Italian industrialist whose luxurious estate frames a web of loyalty, manipulation, and shifting power. She initiates and sustains a complex relationship with Roger, then adapts when a second, more calculating force appears. Her authority is tested as the dynamics of control swing between indulgence and constraint, ending with a negotiated balance of influence with Richard.

A drifter kept by Elena, initially dutiful and admiring, who becomes a focal point for desire and dependence. His fate—and Elena’s complicity in it—exposes how vulnerability can be weaponized within a high-society setting. His drowning catalyzes a shift in the power structure, prompting a new player to seize control.

Roger’s identical replacement who emerges as a shrewd, forceful figure intent on taking over Elena’s affairs. He embodies the ‘same, but different’ catalyst that reconfigures power, transforming passive dependence into strategic authority. By the end, he and Elena form a new equilibrium, with Elena still in charge but under new terms.

Elena’s lawyer who helps manage and conceal the darker sides of Elena’s plans. His presence signals the intertwining of legal authority and personal manipulation within the estate’s circle. He plays a crucial role in keeping appearances intact while conflicts simmer below the surface.

The Doctor’s wife, a writer connected to the shareholder circle. Her presence emphasizes the cultural and intellectual sheen of Elena’s world while highlighting the tensions between public personas and private loyalties. She contributes to the network of relationships that surround Elena’s enterprise.

One of Elena’s shareholders and a key member of the circle that both nourishes and complicates Elena’s ambitions. His role in the fabric of the estate’s power dynamics reflects how professional interests intertwine with personal affiliations.

A staff member within the estate, representative of the service layer that sustains Elena’s world. The role underscores the class structure at play and how those behind the scenes are drawn into the drama by proximity to wealth and influence.

A mysterious figure within Elena’s circle, sometimes read as Della La Rue, a nod to pop culture that hints at the broader web of influence and intrigue surrounding Elena. She contributes to the sense of secrets quietly shaping the plot.

The estate gardener whose routine presence grounds the story in everyday labor. His perspective anchors the human scale of the drama, contrasting with the vast wealth and symbolic power plays occurring around him.

The President/CEO figure (the title used in the cast) who embodies corporate leadership within Elena’s circle. His role underscores the linkage between personal ambition and corporate control at the heart of the narrative.

The secretary who supports Elena’s operations, illustrating the administrative layer that underpins the estate’s world of influence. Her presence emphasizes the organized, bureaucratic side of privilege.