The Red Lanterns

A Romanian-born woman who travels to Greece in search of a better life. She becomes the most famous of The Red Lanterns’ residents, navigating love, danger, and ambition while keeping a personal secret. Her resilience and charisma anchor the group, yet her ascent exposes vulnerabilities within the house’s power structure.

Eleni’s partner who is drawn to her but becomes possessive and conflicted. He struggles with jealousy after discovering Eleni’s secret, oscillating between anger and reconciliation. His actions reveal the volatile dynamics of love within a constrained, high-stakes environment.

A young woman in love with Captain Nicholas who has a child with him. Her secret testifies to the complexities of romance, motherhood, and loyalty in a world where social visibility is dangerous. She embodies vulnerability and hope amid uncertain loyalties.

The eldest and most outwardly masculine in manner, she navigates affection and power with a pragmatic, resilient spirit. Mary experiences pressure and agency within the group, including a complex dynamic with Angelos.

A 16-year-old who is drawn into the house after being pursued by a cop. Her youth highlights themes of exploitation and vulnerability, while her presence gradually reveals the humanity and danger within the workers’ world.

A girl from a village who is in love with Doris, her manager. Her relationships show the tension between affection and control in a space where affection can be leveraged for protection or exploitation.

The professional madam and former prostitute who runs The Red Lanterns. She exerts strict control over the women’s lives and preserves the house’s operation with a tough, calculating demeanor. Her presence defines the power dynamic at the center of the film.

A kindhearted, poor cleaning woman who endures abuse and neglect. Married to an old, institutionalized man, she embodies the overlooked, everyday labor that sustains the household. Her eventual choices reflect a search for dignity and stability.

Captain of the Eternal Ship and father figure to Anna’s child. His departure and the ship’s destruction in the storm bring sudden, irreversible tragedy to the lives intertwined at The Red Lanterns. His absence intensifies the sense of loss that pervades the narrative.

A young customer who falls in love with Mary and later proposes. His romance illustrates the longing for a different life and the harsh reality of pursuing affection within a precarious social world.

Eleni’s manager who harbors feelings for her and attempts to seduce her. His pursuit adds tension and showcases the perilous dynamics of patronage and desire in the house.

A husband who is institutionalized, representing the confinement and neglect suffered by some residents outside the Red Lanterns’ walls. His presence underscores the film’s recurring themes of care, aging, and dependency.