A Bag of Marbles - Characters & Cast

Driven by the desire to reunite with his family and return to the safety of his father's barbershop.

Starts as a naive child who cries for his parents and struggles to understand the hatred directed at him; ends as a hardened, resourceful survivor who understands the value of silence and the weight of loss.

A deep-seated sense of duty to his younger brother and the promise made to his father to keep Jo safe.

Takes on the role of the surrogate father figure early on. He matures into a pragmatic leader who prioritizes Jo's safety over his own comfort.

The desperate preservation of his children's lives, even at the cost of his own safety and his sons' innocence.

Remains a steady, authoritative presence whose lessons (including the brutal slap scene) provide the boys with the mental tools needed to survive.

Ideological adherence to the Vichy regime and a sense of self-preservation through collaboration.

A vocal collaborator who takes Jo in as an assistant; his character provides a nuanced look at the "banality of evil" and the irony of Jo's survival under the roof of an anti-Semite.