Character Relationship Map: The Stroller Strategy

Characters

• Thomas Platz (played by Raphaël Personnaz) — protagonist

  A freelance artist who feels unprepared for parenthood but pretends to be an experienced father. He becomes emotionally attached to a child, cares for him while the child's mother is unconscious, and...

• Marie Deville (played by Charlotte Le Bon) — supporting

  Thomas's former partner, whom he meets at a birthday party. She lives impulsively, expects greater commitment from Thomas, and argues with him about housing and having a child. Their conflicts contrib...

• Paul Bordinot (played by Jérôme Commandeur) — supporting

  Thomas's supportive acquaintance who lends him baby equipment but warns that a relationship cannot be built on a lie. He later forces Thomas to confront the truth about his invented identity and tempo...

• Felipe (played by Baltazar Rizzo) — supporting

  A flamboyant singer who entertains babies during activities at the baby center. Thomas encounters him while trying to behave like an experienced father.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Thomas Platz → Marie Deville (Former Romantic Partners) — Thomas and Marie are romantic partners whose relationship deteriorates under conflicting expectations about commitment, housing, and parenthood.

  Thomas meets Marie at a birthday party, and they enter a relationship marked by arguments about their future. Their conflict eventually contributes to...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Thomas Platz → Felipe (Social Activity Acquaintances) — Thomas and Felipe become acquainted through the childcare activities surrounding Thomas's temporary parental role.

  Thomas meets Felipe at baby massage and early-learning activities at Happy Babies, where Felipe entertains the babies as a flamboyant singer.

• Thomas Platz → Paul Bordinot (Alliance Supportive Allies) — Paul provides practical assistance while Thomas attempts to maintain his false parental role.

  Thomas turns to Paul for help, and Paul lends him baby equipment when Thomas begins caring for the child.

Story Analysis

Thomas invents fatherhood after losing Marie, then discovers that genuine attachment cannot erase the consequences of deception.

Plot Progression

1. A Romance Without Stability — Thomas meets Marie and becomes involved in her impulsive world. Their disputes about housing, children, and commitment gradually damage the relationship.
2. Separation And Reinvention — After the relationship breaks down, Thomas encounters Marie at Happy Babies while carrying a baby. He invents a story about being a new father and continues the deception.
3. Learning To Perform Fatherhood — Paul lends Thomas baby equipment but warns him that relationships cannot be built on lies. Thomas attends childcare activities and struggles to appear more experienced than he is.
4. A Bond Under Medical Threat — The baby's mother is hospitalized and placed under deep sedation, leaving Thomas to manage daily care. Exhaustion gives way to a genuine emotional attachment.
5. The Borrowed Family Ends — The mother awakens, reclaims her child, and plans to leave with him. Thomas loses the temporary family life he created, while Paul forces him to face the truth.