Strange Gardens

A local schoolteacher who returns to Douai with his wife and children for the town fair, he performs a clown act that conceals a painful memory of his wartime past. His pride and fear drive occasional conflict with his son, who wonders why the performance matters. Beneath the jokes lies a man seeking forgiveness and meaning in a community that remembers.

Jacques’ lifelong friend who participates in the wartime sabotage and shares responsibility with him. He wrestles with fear, pride, and the consequences of their choices, ultimately seeking redemption. In the present, he drifts apart from Jacques as the past shapes their bond.

In 1944 she is part of the group affected by the occupation; in the present she is Félix’s widow, a figure of endurance who embodies the cost of memory. She carries the weight of the past and participates in the revelation of the true sacrifices.

A German sentinel who reveals unexpected humanity, entertaining the hostages with a clown act and sharing his food. He ultimately refuses orders to shoot, paying with his life. His actions become a beacon of shared humanity across enemy lines.

A local worker and track-switch operator who is gravely wounded in the sabotage. He sacrifices himself by taking the blame to shield others, a turning point that alters Jacques and André’s life. His act embodies quiet heroism and the cost of resistance.

Jacques and Louise’s son, a witness to the father’s clowning and its meaning. He learns the value of memory through the story André tells and chooses to join in the memorial laughter. His understanding bridges past and present.

Jacques’ wife who supports the family’s annual return to the town fair. She represents domestic stability and the quiet resilience that underpins the family’s attempt to heal old wounds. Her presence reinforces the home front’s role in sustaining memory.

A local insurance agent who is caught up in the 1944 events as part of the hostages. He returns to work in the aftermath, embodying the ordinary citizen whose life is shaped by war’s upheaval.

Jacques and Louise’s daughter, a child during the present-day performances who embodies the passing of memory to the next generation. She participates in the communal laughter as a sign of reconciliation.