STILLWATER

US, 2021, 141 minutes, Colour.

Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin, Lilou Siauvaud.

Directed by Tom McCarthy.

Stillwater is the name of an ordinary town in Oklahoma. And it appears on a souvenir necklace – visualised several times, significant for the emotional outcome of the film.

This is a star vehicle for Matt Damon, appearing here and as a mediaeval warrior knight in The Last Duel during 2021. He has been a significant screen presence for almost 30 years as well as his writing talent, especially for Good Will Hunting.

Here he is playing Bill Baker, a middle-aged labourer, handy at all kinds of hard work. His whole outlook is very American, from the South, rather isolated. However, his daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin), her mother killing herself, her father irresponsible, has suddenly left and travelled to France, settling in Marseilles. She has been accused of killing her partner and, at the opening of the film, has served five years in prison. Her father was present at the trial and has visited.

The action of this rather long film is his visit again, now used to being in France, speaking no French, managing, a kind of determined trudge as he walks, obstinate. Matt Damon is completely convincing in this role.

Allison gives her father a letter which should lead to contact with a further suspect. The lawyers consider that the case cannot be reopened. And, as with this kind of determined American, Bill takes on the investigation himself. There are many leads, contacts, photos from phones, the narrowing down of the lead. But, in the event, with his bluntness, not always listening to advice, he does get a glimpse of the suspect but is bashed.

The first part of the film proceeds as might be expected with Bill and his determination. But, there is a humanity in the second part of the film, almost as if the solution to the crime does not matter. Bill has encountered a single mother, Virginie (Camille Cottin in an engaging performance) and her nine-year-old daughter, Maya (Lilou Siauvaud). Bill bonds with the little girl, is able to enlist the help of her mother, moving with him for translating, disgusted at the number of racists and bigots that they encounter. The bond between Bill and Virginie slowly develops, quite credibly, and his becoming an alternate father-figure to the little girl, playing with her, picking her up from school, learning some French words from her.  Maya is very charming – we like her as well is Bill does.

There are some happy moments, a day’s outing when Allison is allowed parole, swimming in the Mediterranean, having a home meal with Virginie and Maya.

There are some dramatic moments, which means the latter part of the film takes up the investigation again, Bill encountering and trapping the suspect, willing to break the law in order to get the evidence for the case.

We have mixed feelings at the ending of the film, some sympathy for her Bill but also impatience at his obstinate activity and the consequences for himself and for Virginie and Maya.

Back in Stillwater, Alison and Bill sitting on the porch, back where they started, but each of them having gone through life changing journeys but grimly at the end noting that “life is brutal”.

(With the final reassurance that this story does not relate to any actual persons, any connection a coincidence, many audiences will be remembering the Amanda Knox story in Italy and the many similarities to be found here. Amanda Knox objected to the film – not difficult to see why, feeling that the film was an intrusion and an interpretation of her experiences.)

1. Crime detection? In Marseilles? Different?
2. The Oklahoma locations, worksites, post-tornado clearing, homes and interiors? The contrast with the French settings, the city of Marseille, the range of views of the city, the streets, prison and interiors, homes and apartments, the neighbourhoods and ethnic groupings, worksites? The musical score?
3. The title, the town of Stillwater, the Oklahoma background, characters at home in Stillwater? But bad memories of failures? The necklace, its crucial role with Allison, giving it to Akim? Bill and his final confrontation with Allison, her confession?
4. The situation, the parallel with the case in Italy, Amanda Knox, the murder, imprisonment, being freed, the aftermath? Her objections to this film? The final disclaimer about any link with actual characters…?
5. Allison, the death of her mother by suicide, Bill putting the goods in storage, not paying, the goods being disposed of, no mementos of her mother? Reactions against her father, his absence, drinking? Suddenly going to Italy, the encounter with Lina? The relationship, the tensions? The death, her being accused, fighting with Lina? Lina and other women? The trial, imprisonment, having served five years? The effect of prison on her?
6. Bill, his background, wife, death, irresponsible, as a labourer, absent from the family, Allison’s leaving? The case? His giving up drinking? Sharon and her being a confidante, financial support?
7. Going to Marseille, the previous trips, for the case? Not being able to speak French, very American, his determined trudge, his obstinacy, the American framework not understanding the French? The visits to Allison, talking with her, the laundry, her discovering that he had been lying about the lawyers, her anger? The parole day, his going with her, driving, the swim (and his later going back to swim their), introducing them to Virginie and Maya? The meal?
8. His visits to the lawyer, the letter with the name of a suspect? The lawyers refusing to handle it? His deciding to search himself? The contact and the possibility of testing DNA? The variety of searches, phone and discovering the photos, having the photos, showing them, the gang beating him up, his glimpse of Akim? The racism of many of the people, blaming any Arab?
9. Maya, playing in the corridor, locked out, Bill getting the key, meeting with Virginie, friendly, the single mother, moving out? Getting her address, the discussions, her translation, her willingness to go with him, her disgust at the racism and not wanting to talk with the man?
10. Time passing, Allison not wanting to talk to him, four months, his getting the labourer’s job, moving in with Virginie and Maya? His becoming a father figure, picking Maya up from school, her playing with him, in the basement, Is Fixing things? Boarding with Virginie, paying rent? The encounter with the theatre director, his eventually going to the rehearsal, not understanding it? Thinking that acting was on TV not in theatre?
11. The character of Virginie, single mother, devoted to her daughter, translating for Bill, the theatre, rehearsals? The growing relationship, comforting Bill, love and sexuality?
12. At the football, Maya and her excitement, his glimpse of Akim, following him, trapping him on the footpath, putting him in the cellar, locking him in, giving him food, confronting him? His eventual breaking down? The Stillwater necklace?
13. The police, Virginie having let the man go, Maya lying for Bill? Virginie’s reaction, ordering him to leave?
14. The last minute, the lawyer, the further opening of the case, Allison being released?
15. Back in Stillwater, where it all began, sitting on the porch, seeing it with new eyes?
16. Allison’s journey, five years in prison, the parole day and happiness, attempting to hang herself, surviving, accepting her fate, the confession to her father?
17. Bill’s journey, ordinary citizen, strengths and failings, the experience with the trial, Allison’s imprisonment, his visits, the search, the love for Virginie and Maya – but, ultimately, judging life is brutal?