Paolo, French thriller from HBO Max in competition at Series Mania
Paolo, a French thriller series on HBO Max, follows a municipal candidate’s obsession, according to AlloCiné.
We have seen the French series Paolo streamed on HBO Max. Director Sébastien Marnier, described as a free spirit of French cinema, has developed a style of psychological thriller tinged with social critique, already present in L’Heure de la sortie, Irréprochable and L’Origine du mal, according to AlloCiné.
Presented in the international competition at the latest Series Mania Festival, Paolo follows the ordinary life of Paolo who crosses paths with Téophane, an old schoolmate now running for municipal office. What begins as admiration turns into a devouring obsession. The cast includes Jérôme Niel, Philippe Katerine, Zahia, David Ayala, Guilaine Londez, Guslagie Malanda, Yoann Gasiorowski of the Comédie-Française and the young Marie Oppert, according to AlloCiné.
As AlloCiné points out, the thriller has become the flagship genre of streaming platforms, easier to produce than science-fiction or fantasy and always delivering suspense. This formula, sometimes seen as comforting, finds new life in Paolo, which aims to surprise an audience accustomed to tired tropes.
