Above Us Only Sky

The film never confirms a clear reason for Paul's death. What Martha discovers is that Paul fabricated his entire identity, he never submitted a thesis to Professor Gellendorf, and no one at the university remembers him. This suggests Paul was living a complete fabrication, and the weight of that deception, combined with his impending move to Marseille where his lies would likely unravel, may have led him to take his own life.

No. When Martha contacts Professor Gellendorf, he states he has not seen Paul for at least four years and has never seen any thesis from him. The university staff cannot recall ever meeting Paul. This reveals that Paul fabricated his entire academic career and likely his job offer in Marseille as well.

Early in the film, Paul hands in his thesis to Professor Gellendorf, creating the illusion of academic progress.

Martha discovered that the life Paul led outside their relationship was almost entirely fabricated. He had no friends or family she could contact, his thesis was never submitted, and nobody at the university recognized him. She realized she had been living with a stranger who had constructed an entirely false identity.

A contact in Marseille called to say they had found Paul's phone. This call confirmed that Paul had truly been in Marseille and that his death was real. More importantly, it prompted Martha to confront the deeper truth about the fabricated life Paul had built around their relationship.

Martha was drawn to Alexander because he physically reminded her of Paul. Grieving and desperate for connection after learning her husband was not who she thought he was, she sought comfort in a stranger. This affair appears to be her way of coping with the devastating realization that her entire relationship was built on lies.

When the phone rang and the name Paul appeared on the screen, Alexander realized Martha had been hiding something significant, her husband was not simply away. The revelation that she had recently lost a spouse and had not told him caused him to leave, as he recognized the deception and emotional manipulation in their relationship.

Alexander had an affectionate girlfriend who was badly hurt when she learned about his involvement with Martha. The affair caused significant emotional harm to her, adding another layer of collateral damage to Martha's actions.

In the postscript, Martha and Alexander have gotten back together and moved to Marseille, the same city where Paul died. Martha appears pregnant, suggesting she has chosen to rebuild her life with Alexander despite everything that happened. The move represents her attempt to start fresh after the trauma.

Professor Gellendorf told Martha that he had not seen Paul for at least four years and had never seen any thesis from him. This single conversation was enough to unravel the foundation of Paul's identity and expose his fabrication.

Earlier, the film shows Paul submitting his thesis to Professor Gellendorf, making the later contradiction stark.