YNOT at the Movies

If you expect the Oscar-winning writer/director Tom McCarthy's new film "Stillwater" (USA 2021 | in English/French | 140 min.) to be a crime thriller, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that it is actually a captivating character study. The film unfolds the daunting effort by a simple-minded father from Oklahoma trying to exonerate his daughter in a foreign land, and beautifully captures the profound impact on him during his journey. Matt Damon's subtle performance alone is worth the five minutes standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.

That father is Bill Baker (Matt Damon) who is working as temporary labor after being laid-off as an oil-rigger in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Bearded, rugged, and almost always with a cap on, Bill looks like a typical southerner. He is deeply religious, has a brush with the law, and is short on cash. Yet, Bill takes regular trips to a port town Marseille in France, not as a tourist, but to visit his estranged daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin) who has been in prison for four years after being convicted for murder of her Arabic-French lover.

During one prison visit, Allison slips a note to Bill to ask her lawyer to investigate new evidence that might exonerate her conviction. After the lawyer refuses, despite the language barrier, Bill decides to take the matter into his own hand. He extends his stay by doing handyman's jobs while conducting his own investigation.

Luckily, he gets help from Virginie (Camille Cottin), a theater actress who is a single mom to the 9-year-old Maya (Lilou Siauvaud). Not only does Virginie grow closer to Bill, but she also gives him a healthy dose of French culture. Meanwhile, Bill gets to redeem himself by being a father figure to Maya which he neglected to do earlier for Allison.

However, whether Bill's transcending experience is able to save Allison and to leave his moral compass in peace remains in question.

With a straight-forward style and sequential timeline, the director Tom McCarthy's immersive storytelling crafts a few mesmerizing characters across a wide range of cultural spectra. He also pointedly, sometimes humorously, makes some social commentaries about the American society and culture. Despite the sharp contrast between the backgrounds of Bill and Virginie, the smart script never feels out of step when their relationship progresses. They are still true to themselves, and they find a French connection regardless of their differences.

Bill's internal struggle is always at the center of the film. Matt Damon terrifically portrays Bill as a sensitive soul with a rugged demeanor. Bill might not be eloquent in expressing himself, but we feel his regret as a father and his desire for redemption. His bond with the little Maya is earnest and sincere, as if through Maya he wants to make up for all the time he has lost with Allison. The adorable Lilou Siauvaud adds more enjoyable moments as Maya to the movie.

When Bill finally returns to Stillwater, reflecting on the ordeal in France, he seems to be at a loss about where he truly belongs in this strange world.

"Stillwater" opens on Friday, July 30, 2021.