Paolo, a friend who wishes you well (review)

Jérôme Niel trades his crazy humor for a much more disturbing role in this psychological thriller by Sébastien Marnier for HBO Max. A disturbing dive into obsession, social frustration and relationships of domination.

We knew Jérôme Niel as the supercharged troublemaker from Studio Bagel, king of “Tutos”, capable of transforming any situation into something big.

For Paolo, a new French creation from HBO Max (to be seen from today), the comedian radically changes register to embody a perfectly ordinary, almost transparent guy, whose existence will gradually crack around an obsession.

This obsession is called Théophane. He was in class with Paolo in elementary school. Then their paths diverged. And while Paolo leads his quiet little existence in his small provincial town, his former comrade runs for mayor. Having become a local personality, he naturally attracts attention. Charmer, symbol of success, Théophane seduces. Especially Paolo, who will harbor a mad fascination for the candidate, to the point of becoming his personal driver. From there, the relationship between the two men turns into a strange game of domination. Who manipulates who? What is Paolo really looking for?