The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart

A Columbia University film student who moves to New York City and longs for sexual and artistic fulfillment. He is charming and restless, yet easily bored, often chasing new experiences rather than committing. His journey takes him from a realm of fantasies to a makeshift family, revealing a pattern of self-centered risk-taking.

A talkative, free-spirited hippie who has adopted the name Shayne. She becomes one of Stanley’s early encounters and later a core member of the bohemian circle. Her presence embodies the era’s countercultural ethos and complicates Stanley’s pursuit of stable affection.

Stanley’s classmate and initial love interest, a virgin who gradually becomes entangled in the group’s sexual dynamics. Her devotion clashes with Stanley’s restlessness, and her breakup reveals the fragility of their bond. She represents a grounded counterpoint to the wild energy around her.

Andrea is the beautiful roommate who becomes part of the makeshift family. She shares a close sexual and emotional bond with Stanley and, along with Barbara, creates a new home in the Village scene. Her presence anchors the polyamorous dynamic but also shares in the emotional ups and downs.

An older, sophisticated underground musician who befriends Stanley and Cathy. He provides a counterpoint to Stanley’s ambitions, with a blasé attitude toward relationships. His personal crisis culminates in a suicide near his mother's house, highlighting the dark edge of the era’s experimentation.

The chubby roommate who becomes part of the group’s sexual explorations. She is filmed by Stanley for an underground project and eventually joins in the group dynamics. Her involvement intensifies the blurred lines between art, consent, and intimacy in the makeshift family.