The Shadow in My Eye - Characters & Cast

Henry's initial motivation is simply to survive and cope with his trauma. His friendship with Rigmor and Eva gives him a new motivation: to reconnect with the world and overcome his fear.

Henry begins the film as a happy, carefree boy. After witnessing a traumatic event, he becomes mute and fearful, embodying the psychological wounds of war. Throughout the film, with the help of his cousins, he slowly begins to regain his confidence. During the bombing of the school, he is forced to confront his trauma head-on and finds his voice again while helping the rescuers, signifying a painful transition from innocence to a harsh maturity.

Teresa is motivated by a desperate need to understand God's place in a world of suffering. She seeks proof of His existence, or His absence, through her actions.

Teresa starts as a young novice struggling with her faith in God amidst the war. Her crisis of faith leads her to test God through a forbidden relationship with Frederik. In the end, trapped in the rubble of the school, she makes a selfless sacrifice in an attempt to save Rigmor, suggesting she finds her own form of faith not in divine intervention, but in human compassion and sacrifice.

Frederik's motivations are complex and likely stem from a combination of self-preservation, a misguided sense of order, and a deep-seated desire for belonging. His relationship with Teresa awakens a desire for redemption.

Frederik is a Danish HIPO officer, a collaborator with the Gestapo, and is initially depicted as a brutal enforcer. Through his interactions with Teresa, his humanity and guilt are revealed. He is a man torn between his duty and his conscience. His arc is one of attempted redemption, as he ultimately tries to save Teresa from the bombed school.

Rigmor is motivated by a pure and simple desire to help her cousin and enjoy her childhood, despite the looming presence of the war.

Rigmor is a bright and compassionate young girl who embodies the resilience of childhood. She is a source of strength and hope for her traumatized cousin, Henry. Her arc is tragically cut short by the bombing, making her a symbol of the countless innocent lives lost in the war.

Eva's motivation on the day of the bombing is driven by a child's logic and emotion - she is upset with her father and decides to go home. This simple act has profound consequences.

Eva, like Rigmor, is a young and innocent schoolgirl. Her personal story arc is defined by a small act of defiance on the day of the bombing - leaving the school to go home after an argument with her father. This seemingly insignificant decision ultimately saves her life, highlighting the random nature of survival in war.