i guess the manager is your direct boss....

i think the manager will have a say on your performance? am I right?

if your direct boss (manager) has problem with you, then you will not survive in the company. as you mentioned she has lots of influence.

so your first priority is winning the trust from her. You said "the group member does not speak with each other", is that in public? do you know how they speak in private? or in email? mostly you don't know. So you can do the strategy i listed in private. - and you can get along with both manager and director, but manager is more important in this case.

good relationship with everyone will help you. its good to show respect to everyone in work place...