Paper Man

Richard is a failed novelist who still talks to his imaginary superhero friend, Captain Excellent. At his wife Claire’s urging, he moves to a Long Island beach town for the winter in a bid to overcome his writer’s block and regain some sense of purpose.

On a quiet bike ride around town, Richard meets 17-year-old Abby, who lights a fire in a trash can for no obvious reason. He hires her as a weekly babysitter—even though he has no children—because the sight of her sparks something unexpected. When Abby shows up for the first shift and Richard admits there are no kids in his life, she accepts the situation with surprising ease, and Richard finds himself spending long evenings at the pier, talking to Captain Excellent, who keeps insisting that Richard can never make the right choice without his guidance. Back at home, Richard is struck by Abby’s homemade soup and the simple artistry of hands that can create something nourishing, something he struggles to do himself. He continues to hire Abby for the same time the following week, despite Captain Excellent’s warning that it will lead to trouble. A fragile father-daughter-like bond forms between them, and Abby opens up about the death of her twin sister, Amy, while Richard confides in her about the crumbling state of his marriage.

Gathering around this evolving bond, Christopher, Abby’s imaginary friend since Amy’s death, watches their relationship grow. He feels neglected by Abby but wants only her happiness, even if that happiness complicates his own existence.

The mood shifts as Richard hosts a drunken party for local high school students. Abby’s boyfriend punches him, the house is left in disarray, and, by dawn, Abby and Richard have fallen asleep together on a couch. When Claire finds them the next morning, a bitter argument erupts: Richard laments the fact that they never had children and claims his family name will die with him, while Claire reveals that it was his own choice not to have kids.

As the days pass, Abby and Richard lose their imaginary friends, and Richard leaves a note for Abby before he makes an effort to rebuild his relationship with Claire. The story tracks how longing, memory, and the temptation to cling to imagined protectors can blur boundaries and force hard, painful decisions. In its quiet winter setting on the coast, the film gently probes loneliness, responsibility, and the fragile bonds that keep people from fully drifting apart.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58