just watched this movie, and didnt quite get the reason for him going into houses, since he didnt steal anything, nor blackmail anyone for money, although he was given money it was very little and not worth all the work,
was it just to get somewhere to sleep, or to see if he can convince them he was a son's friend? or was it that he was mentally disturbed?
he did steal the money from the 2 kids but he could have stolen so much more from the rich people
Good question, bwaz. I think that "Paul" was simply mentally ill. He obviously was very needy, and perhaps abandoned/abused as a child - just my thoughts.
shareIt's a movie based on a stage play. The characters' motivations can often be exaggerated for dramatic effect in these kinds of films.
Paul seemed desperate to become someone else, so much so that being treated like Poitier's son, or even just being treated as one of the rich people's peers, was reward enough for him.
Also, he loved his time with Flan & 'Ouisa so much because they let him "use every part" of himself.
Honestly, I've felt that way many times. It's enormously validating when people value you for what you know, what you can do and who you "truly are inside." It makes you feel truly special, not in that "everyone is special" kind of way.
That, too, can be an enormous motivator, even in the real world.
But it does make sense that she couldn't find him at the end. The dream was over; he went back to his old life.