Paul is a 2025 Canadian documentary film, directed by Denis Côté.Jamie Casemore, "Denis Côté doc among Canadian films to screen at Berlinale". Playback, December 17, 2024. The film centres on Paul, a man struggling with severe social anxiety who socializes mainly online and supports himself with a job as a home and work cleaner for dominatrixes.Martin Kudlac, "Locarno 2024 Interview: Denis Côté on Defying Filmmaking Norms, Upcoming Simp Movie, Embracing Artistic Freedom, Navigating Life After a Kidney Transplant". Screen Anarchy, August 23, 2024.
The film premiered in February 2025 at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.Marc Cassivi, "Denis Côté et Kid Koala à la Berlinale". La Presse, December 17, 2024.
Critical response Allan Hunter of Screen Daily wrote that the film "does meander a little at times and risks becoming repetitive as Paul is once again tied up or restrained. Mostly, however, it remains engaging and offers a persuasive testimony to the sense of empowerment that can come from the unlikeliest of places."Allan Hunter, "‘Paul’ review: Denis Côté doc explores the surprising benefits of submissive cleaning". Screen Daily, February 19, 2025.
The film won the Special Jury Prize from the Best Canadian Feature Documentary jury at the 2025 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.Matthew Carey, "Hot Docs Announces Prizes: Awards Go To ‘I, Poppy,’ ‘River Of Grass,’ ‘Paul,’ ‘Khartoum’ And More". Deadline Hollywood, May 2, 2025.
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