MOVIE REVIEW – What would you do if your child was innocently convicted of murder in a foreign country? How would you fight for justice in a system that won’t listen to you? And how would you find your place in another culture where you are seen as a stranger? These are the questions Stillwater seeks to answer, a film about a father and daughter whose lives are changed forever by a tragic event. Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin star in an emotional and gripping thriller.

The film is directed by Tom McCarthy, best known for the Oscar-winning journalistic drama Spotlight. McCarthy co-wrote the screenplay with French screenwriters Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain and Noé Debré. The main characters are Matt Damon, who plays Bill Baker, an unemployed oil driller from Oklahoma, and Abigail Breslin, who plays Allison, Bill’s daughter who has been in a Marseille prison for five years. The film is partly based on real events, inspired by the case of Amanda Knox, who was convicted in Italy for the murder of her boyfriend.

“Not without my daughter”

At the beginning of Stillwater, Bill is on his way to Marseille to visit Allison. She claims that she was innocently convicted of the murder of her roommate and lover. Allison hands Bill a letter saying she has heard from a man who claims to know the real killer. Bill decides to track down this man and prove Allison’s innocence. He enlists the help of Virginie (Camille Cottin), a French theatre director, and her daughter Maya (Lilou Siauvaud), whom he befriends at her hotel. But Bill soon discovers that it’s not easy to find the truth in a foreign country where he doesn’t speak the language or know the law.

Later, Bill decides to settle in Marseille and help Virginie and Maya. Meanwhile, he continues investigating Allison’s case, but not with the same determination and recklessness as before. Bill discovers the beauty and diversity of Marseille and learns to accept Virginie’s life

Crime, drama and a deeply human story

Stillwater’s greatest strength is that it tells a deeply human story that is a gripping crime thriller and an emotional family drama. The plot illustrates the complexity and beauty of the father-daughter relationship and how people are affected by cultural differences.

Matt Damon’s performance takes the film by storm again as he authentically plays the simple but stubborn and loving father who will do anything for his daughter. Damon’s body language and facial expressions reveal much of Bill’s inner struggles and feelings. Abigail Breslin is also superb as the damaged and struggling Allison, who refuses to give up hope. And Camille Cottin is charming as Virginie, who helps Bill open up and love again. The supporting cast includes Lilou Siauvaud as Maya, the little girl who looks on Bill as a father. Siauvaud’s natural and charming performance sweetens the film’s sombre mood.

The film does not judge the characters, but presents them with understanding and empathy. The film does not answer complex questions simply, but encourages the viewer to reflect on their own values and choices.

Stillwater also effectively represents the contrast between American and French culture. McCarthy sensitively portrays Bill’s struggles and changes as he adjusts to Marseille. The imagery also reflects this difference: the scenes in Oklahoma are drab and bleak, while the scenes in Marseille are colorful and full of life. The music also helps to convey the mood: alongside Bill’s favorite country songs, there is French rap and pop.

A fusion of two genres – a little too drawn out

Stillwater is basically a mix of a thrilling (or intended to be) crime thriller and an emotional drama, but with a flawed execution. The crime thriller dominates the beginning as Bill tries to find the real killer in his daughter’s case, and the second half is dominated by the drama as Bill starts a new life in Marseille and becomes closer to Virginie and Maya.

As already mentioned, the story is partly based on real events, but Stillwater is not a documentary, but a fiction that tells the story from its own perspective. That would be fine, but the biggest flaw in the plot comes at the end, when an unexpected and implausible twist overturns the logic and realism of the story, losing the trust and sympathy the viewer has built up.

Another weakness of Stillwater is its rhythm, which is too slow and draggy. McCarthy’s film is a bit of a misuse of time: in places it’s too long and slow, some scenes are unnecessary or overblown – they could have easily ended up on the cutting table.

Impressive, but not perfect

Stillwater is a fascinating film about a father and daughter whose lives are shattered by a murder. It is a fascinating mix of crime and drama, and an insight into the contrast between American and French culture. We also get one of Matt Damon’s best performances as a heroic and sensitive father who will do anything for his daughter.

However, the film is not perfect: it is too long and slow, some scenes are unnecessary or overdone, and at the end an incredible twist ruins the structure. In the right mood, you will have a moving and thought-provoking experience, so Stillwater is worth seeing, but you can’t expect a groundbreaking film like Spotlight.

-BadSector-