Chula is a highly sensitive and imaginative young girl living in a protected neighborhood. She absorbs the violent national conflict through snippets of news broadcasts, which fuel her intense curiosity. Her empathetic nature leads her to obsess over the family's new teenage maid, as she feels a heavy, self-imposed responsibility to keep the older girl safe.

Petrona is a thirteen-year-old girl from an impoverished settlement called the Hills. Following the loss of her father and several brothers to the ongoing conflict, she becomes the sole breadwinner for her asthmatic mother and younger siblings. Deeply cautious and emotionally starved, she uses silence as a shield while enduring the immense pressure of providing for her household.

Mamá presides over her household with a commanding and superstitious presence. Having grown up in poverty before ascending to the upper-middle class, she frequently wrestles with the tension between her altruistic impulses and her fierce self-preservation instincts. She plants a poisonous tree in her yard as a subversive reminder of the danger lurking beyond their gated community.

Cassandra is Chula's nine-year-old older sister. Imperious and confident, she acts as an authoritative foil to her sensitive younger sibling. She approaches the surrounding violence with a practical detachment, preferring to engage in neighborhood mischief and provide unverified assurances rather than dwell on frightening realities.

Gorrión is a charismatic young man with ties to left-wing guerrillas who takes an interest in the Santiago family's maid. He showers his romantic interest with much-needed care and attention, making her highly susceptible to his influence. Behind his charming exterior lies a manipulative streak as he attempts to leverage her employment for his own illicit gains.

Papá is the erudite and frequently absent patriarch of the family. He works long stretches away from home, providing the financial support that sustains his household's privileged lifestyle. When home, he projects immense hubris, brushing off the dangers of the political conflict and boasting about his ability to protect his children.

Doña Lucía is an asthmatic woman raising her children in a makeshift hut after being displaced by paramilitary violence. Traumatized by the loss of her husband and older sons, she places heavy demands on her daughters to support the family. Her fear often manifests as rage, particularly regarding the social choices of her eldest daughter.

Ramón is a rebellious boy growing up in an impoverished settlement. Driven by hunger and frustration over his family's desperate poverty, he rejects honest labor in favor of accepting food and money from local militant groups.

Aurora is a ten-year-old girl managing domestic labor in a precarious environment. She depends entirely on her older sister's wages to survive, sharing in the vulnerability of their impoverished daily life.

Abuela María is the stern matriarch of Mamá's family who operates a small storefront out of her house in El Salado. She maintains a quiet resilience until a harrowing encounter with guerrilla crossfire drastically alters her mental state.

Tía Inés continues to live in relative poverty in El Salado. She harbors a tense relationship with her sister due to their differing socioeconomic circumstances and fiercely guards her children from the ever-present violence in their rural settlement.

Leticia is a teenager from the Hills who earns money by passing information for local criminal factions. She repeatedly entices her friends to join her in this illicit work as an escape from destitution.

Isa is one of the twin girls living in the Santiagos' gated community. She enthusiastically partners with the neighborhood children to execute elaborate pranks and spy on eccentric adults.

Lala completes the neighborhood prankster duo alongside her twin sister. She frequently joins in games of ding-dong-ditch and wild speculations about the wealthy residents in their area.

The Oligarch is a wealthy, elderly woman living alone in a mansion filled with glittering artworks. The local children view her as a mysterious figure and frequently target her home for their nighttime mischief.

Emilio is a taxi driver and friend of the family patriarch. Labeled a communist by his friend's wife, he is a familiar presence for the Santiago girls, who occasionally use his taxi trunk for their mischievous play.