THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH PAUL

There’s Something Wrong With Paul was born during lockdown, between bouts of anxiety and frustration. I became interested in the film’s controversial subject after reading an article suggesting that the condition our main character suffers from may be influenced, at least in part, by environmental factors. That idea stayed with me and became the starting point for exploring how someone’s environment and experiences can contribute to the person they ultimately become.

The biggest challenge was Paul himself. I wanted to create a character capable of truly despicable behavior without reducing him to a one-dimensional villain. The goal wasn’t to excuse his actions, but to give the audience enough access to his isolation and damaged worldview that they might understand him—or even briefly sympathize with him. For me, the film became an exercise in putting the audience in an uncomfortable position: recognizing the humanity in someone while still being repulsed by what he does.