We Are No Angels (1975) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

A brash boxer turned mechanic, Raphael guards the money he wins in fights and navigates a volatile street world. He confronts Angel's manipulation, fights Shark's men, and ultimately faces the consequences of greed and loyalty in Highfalls.

• 🥊 Brash
• 🔧 Mechanic
• 💪 Protective

Clever and cash-driven, Angel convinces Raphael to invest and schemes to seize money for himself. He partners with Arcangelo to exploit opportunities, but his pursuit of wealth fuels distrust and family conflict.

• 🎭 Charismatic
• 🧠 Cunning
• 💰 Risk-taker

A young woman who returns Angel's gaze yet remains at a safe distance as the drama unfolds. She becomes part of the backdrop of romance in the mid-1920s town, hinting at hope amid turmoil.

• 💃 Mysterious
• 💞 Romantic
• 👀 Observant

A lively child whose teasing and pranks add chaos to Raphael and Angel's plans. His mischief also foreshadows the consequences of the brothers' choices.

• 🧒 Mischievous
• 🐾 Playful
• 🤝 Family

The little sister who joins Willy in the town's antics, often the catalyst for emotional moments and dramatic misunderstandings. Her cry signals the stakes of the Gamblers' clash.

• 🐑 Innocent
• 🍼 Family
• 😄 Playful

Evelyn and Willy's mother, a protective presence in Highfalls who provides a home front amid the town's strife. She hosts meals and keeps the family grounded.

• 👩‍👧‍👦 Family matriarch
• 🛡️ Protective
• 🤝 Loyal

The inventive mind whose work with hang gliders becomes a key element in the race and the brothers' survival. He plays a quiet but pivotal role in enabling the dramatic escape.

• 🧠 Genius
• 🛠️ Inventor
• 🌀 Eccentric

A powerful antagonist who wraps his selfish interests in the language of tradition. His gang and schemes drive much of the town's conflict and violence.

• 💼 Manipulative
• 🗝️ Strategic
• 🐊 Ruthless

A formidable enforcer whose menacing presence challenges Raphael and whose alliance with Shark's faction intensifies the town's power struggle.

• 👊 Enforcer
• 🕶️ Menacing
• 🗡️ Violent

A member of Shark's crew involved in the town's organized fights and street clashes, contributing to the chaos that shapes the climax.

• 🗡️ Henchman
• ⚖️ Loyal
• 💥 Aggressive

Money drives the plot as Angel sneaks Raphael's winnings away, only for Raphael to uncover the hidden swag. Angel's manipulation fractures trust between brothers and between allies like Willy and Polly. Greed turns loyalty into conflict, escalating fights and chaos in Highfalls. The finale suggests that greed can destroy family and community alike.

The race between cars and carriages embodies the clash between progress and tradition in Highfalls. Angel and Raphael chase profits through new technologies and schemes, while Shark's faction clings to old power. The invention of instruments like the hang glider accelerates the shift, reshaping transport and control in the town. The conflict turns the town into a testbed for change.

Raphael and Angel's brotherly bond anchors the story, even as betrayal tests their trust. Evelyn's presence and Willy and Polly's care highlight the pull of family amid danger. Moments of camaraderie with Linda and Arcangelo remind viewers that loyalty remains a counterweight to greed. The ending implies that lasting ties may outlast the schemes of power.