Günther Scheller

Paul Krantz—his best friend. He's Günther's opposite: more impulsive, more extroverted, more "lively" on the surface. But they both share a dissatisfaction with the world around them. Paul is the one who pushes him to act, the one who tells him "do it" when Günther hesitates. He's also the one in love with the same person as Günther, which creates constant tension between them. They love each other, but there's a silent rivalry that poisons everything. Hilde Scheller — His sister. Günther completely idealizes her: for him, Hilde is beauty, freedom, everything that bourgeois life doesn't give him. She is flirtatious, free-spirited, and a little capricious. Günther's mother appears infrequently but carries significant weight. She is the figure of family authority, the one who expects her son to behave like a proper young gentleman. She represents everything Günther rejects: rules, appearances, the hypocrisy of Berlin's high society. The relationship between them is cold, driven more by obligation than affection.

The father. They're there as a backdrop, like the world Günther wants to escape. There's no warm connection with them. They're the gilded cage.

Hans: He is a kind of ex-boyfriend of Günther who is now with his sister, Hilde. Günther has a rejection towards him as well as melancholy, having some unspoken resentment and hatred towards Hans and Hilde.

Face: He has an angular face with strong features. Prominent cheekbones, a defined jaw, and a straight, somewhat sharp nose. It's a face that ages well for the period, but in the film he looks young, almost childlike at times, which contrasts with the seriousness of his character.

Eyes: Probably his most important feature for the character. They are light, a bluish hue, and Diehl uses them extensively to convey that melancholy and inner intensity. He has a deep gaze, which sometimes seems lost and other times piercing.

Hair: Blonde, though slightly dark, styled back with a side part, very typical of 1920s Germany. Neat but not stiff, with a few strands escaping, giving it a casual yet elegant look. Build: Slender, rather slender. He is not imposing or muscular; on the contrary, he has a physical fragility that perfectly suits the sensitive and tormented character. He wears period suits that fit him snugly, with narrow shoulders and an elongated silhouette.

General expression: There's a palpable tension about him. Even when he's still, he seems nervous, as if he's about to snap. His mouth is often slightly open or he wears a bitter half-smile. Everything in his body language suggests that he's not entirely comfortable in his own skin.

A bit nihilistic. He lives in a time of crisis of values, and it shows. He has a constant sense of purpose, a feeling that social rules are just theater and that the only real things are intense emotions. That's why the partying, the alcohol, the desire... and that's also why the tragic ending.

Charming yet distant. He knows how to be sweet, captivating, the kind of guy who looks at you and makes you feel like you're the only person in the room. But there's also something about him that eludes him, that isn't quite there. As if a part of him already belongs elsewhere. To everyone else, he comes across as rebellious and self-assured, even though he's the complete opposite.

A hopeless romantic. He speaks of love, poetry, and ideals. He believes in absolute love, the kind that justifies everything. It's not a casual love: for him, loving is something serious, almost religious.

Melancholic and sensitive. He has an underlying sadness that never quite disappears, even when he smiles. It's clear he feels things very intensely, and that makes him fragile. He's not your typical self-assured guy; on the contrary, he seems to carry an invisible weight.

Impulsive and passionate. When he feels something, he feels it completely. He doesn't stop to think about the consequences. This leads him to make drastic decisions, driven by his heart (or by jealousy, or by desperation) rather than by reason.