Zurich

Lea is a 22-year-old with cystic fibrosis who endures daily battles with breathlessness and dependence on oxygen. Her illness shapes her outlook and limits her normal life, driving a desperate wish to escape chronic pain. She is sharp-witted and emotionally resilient, yet overwhelmed by fatigue and fear, and she makes a radical, life-ending plan seeking autonomy in the face of suffering.

Michaela is an employee of the euthanasia organization who picks Lea up and guides her to the medical professional. She maintains professional boundaries while offering information and support, revealing the complexities of assisting in death within a regulated system.

Dr. Seydlitz assesses Lea and prescribes a controlled substance after being convinced of her poor health. He embodies the tension between medical duty and legal/ethical boundaries, illustrating the pressures doctors face when confronted with requests for assisted death.

Moritz is Lea’s peer who struggles with severe depression and has attempted suicide. He befriends Lea, sharing a sense of despair and vulnerability. The character highlights the loneliness of mental illness and the human need for connection.

Maria is Lea’s grandmother who reacts with shock but ultimately supports Lea’s decision. Her presence underscores family bonds and the difficult conversations around care, sacrifice, and acceptance in the face of terminal illness.

Rita is Lea’s sister who experiences emotional upheaval but remains a source of familial love. Her presence reflects sibling ties and the shared burden of a family faced with a loved one’s decision to die.

Hannah is Lea’s mother, who initially refuses Lea’s plan and faces the fear of losing her daughter. Her stance evolves as she processes Lea’s suffering and the meaning of autonomy within a loving, but strained, family dynamic.

A younger Lea appears in flashbacks, illustrating the long arc of her illness and the early development of fear regarding suffocation. This glimpse helps convey how illness has shaped her from childhood into adulthood.