Must-See Movie: This Doll Parodies Real Social Issues with Romantic Comedy Flair!

What’s it About?

Rémi has never gotten over his last breakup. Since then, he’s found companionship with a doll—it’s much simpler. Her name is Audrey. When Patricia, a new co-worker, joins his company, Rémi’s life is set to change.

If you enjoyed the irreverent humor of Barbie, meet The Doll, Sophie Beaulieu’s debut feature film. A wild comedy starring Vincent Macaigne, Zoé Marchal, Cécile de France, and Adèle Journeaux, featuring outrageous scenes and some rare moments of letting go not commonly seen in French cinema.

The Doll switches between horror-comedy, romantic comedy, and parody, with a provocative take on themes of patriarchy. While the film is clearly a work of fiction, pushing the boundaries of fantasy, it’s important to note that it is based on a very real social issue.

“I stumbled upon a TV report where men who owned hyper-realistic silicone dolls, crafted to their specifications, were interviewed. They could choose options, like the size of the doll’s breasts or even more… They lived this secretly as they knew they were judged, but in reality, they saw no issue. They declared themselves in love… Their relationship didn’t exist, it was at best one-sided!”

Challenging Traditional Thought Patterns

She added, “It reminded me of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor from Greek mythology who falls in love with his statue, brought to life by Aphrodite, the goddess of love. I wanted to hear the statue’s side of the story. And then the doll’s… Indeed, the dynamics between men and women, the biases that build and hinder them, have always been my favorite subjects since my early short films.

Crafting a narrative around a doll that suddenly comes to life seemed like a good way to challenge traditional thought patterns on these topics. Because Audrey, the doll in my film, doesn’t have a backstory when she becomes alive. She enters the world with a straightforward approach full of common sense, and unyielding logic.”

Underneath its whimsical exterior, The Doll invites audiences to ponder several topics. Notably, in the role of this real/fake “doll,” we see Zoé Marchal, daughter of Olivier Marchal, who has been seen in the series Skam. In 2023, Zoé Marchal played Stéphanie, the eldest daughter of Bernard Tapie, in the series Tapie, aired on Netflix. She also starred in the comedy New Rich, where she immersed herself in the character.

Check out images of the film’s team at the Alpe d’Huez.

The Doll releases in cinemas this Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

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