Despite being sensitive, Jill is unafraid to voice her opinion. Her father Zepek, a reminiscent drunk fixated on the memory of his former military days, is defamatory and abusive towards her, crudely hitting his daughter and leaving her starved for affection. As a result, the two often get into arguments. While her mother is more caring and compassionate, she too suffers from her husband's neglect; Jill's household is a "battlefield", broken and dysfunctional, and Jill herself is profoundly unhappy. She is not shown to have any friends to confide in.