Thieves

A school principal whose early idealism clashes with midlife weariness. He mutters about the old days while hiding an affair with a neighbor, revealing a moral compromise behind a composed exterior. His actions pull Sally between loyalty and self-preservation, and his impulsive moments hint at a man torn by duty and desire.

A married schoolteacher who wants a child and feels the weight of time pressuring her. She initiates divorce proceedings after discovering her own pregnancy and contemplates abortion, showing determination and vulnerability in equal measure. Her journey fuses longing with a stubborn search for autonomy within a fragile marriage.

A juvenile delinquent who steals from the building and negotiates with Sally using stolen goods. He is both a catalyst and a mirror for the couple’s unresolved tensions, forcing Sally to confront the possibility of reforming rather than taking the easier path.

A park acquaintance who becomes part of Sally’s world; he is married with children and offers friendship rather than romance. His presence underscores the complexity of intimate needs and the limits of alternative connections in their urban life.

A neighbor who becomes the object of Martin’s momentary affair, wearing his sweatshirt and illustrating the breach of trust at the core of the relationship. She represents a temptation that unsettles the marriage and tests Sally’s resolve.

The building’s doorman who holds a key to the couple’s life and ultimately becomes a casualty in the tangled events. His role as observer adds texture to the domestic drama, and his death adds a layer of danger to the narrative.

Sally’s father who reveals a surprising family truth about Sally’s age and offers a gift from his will. His insistence on timing and education reframes Sally’s understanding of time, age, and family obligation.

A man encountered in a closed Loew's theater who explains to Martin that the theater has become a church. His encounter underscores the film’s themes of illusion, conversion, and the uneasy transition from fantasy to faith.