An acutely gentle portrait of a young man struggling with depression
Struggling with depression and social anxiety, Paul has found an unexpected refuge: he does housework for dominant women. He shares his daily life on his Instagram account in the hope and desire to overcome his loneliness, while displaying his own inner world. The documentary follows him in his intimate moments, sitting at his computer and meeting with these women whose well-being brings him joy.
Only Denis Côté could depict reality in this way, combining genuine empathy with a clinical camera detached from the BDSM practices unfolding on screen. The film questions the very principle of intimacy, by filming the daily routine of Paul, who used to carefully control the way he was perceived by the outside world through his Instagram account.
« C’est tour à tour touchant, drôle et déconcertant. Ça ne ressemble à rien, tout en étant parfaitement maîtrisé dans son unicité. Bref, c’est du Denis Côté. »
François Lévesque Le Devoir 02/05/2025
Berlinale - Berlin IFF 2025, 2025, de
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, 2025, gr
Visions du Réel Film Festival, 2025, ch
Hot Docs International Film Festival, 2025, ca
Visions du Réel, 2025, ch
Denis Côté
Born in Quebec in 1973, Denis Côté is a Canadian director, renowned for his independent films blending fiction and documentary. A former film critic, he began directing unique works in the 2000s, including Les États nordiques (2005), Curling (2010) and Vic + Flo Saw a Bear (2013). Awarded with numerous international prizes, he explores marginal and contemplative worlds. In 2024, he received the Albert-Tessier Award, Quebec’s highest film distinction, in recognition of his entire body of work.
