Stillwater
{5/5} “Don’t get your hopes too high with my dad.”
Stillwater, released in 2021
Bill travels to Paris to visit his daughter Allison, who’s in prison. Allison gives him a letter to give to her lawyer, but the lawyer says there’s nothing she can do. Bill asks his neighbour to translate the letter, as it’s written in French. Allison has been in prison for 5 years and has 4 left, claims to be innocent, and urges her to continue to investigate the murder — also saying that her father is incapable of doing so.
Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin are always brilliant — here they play characters who have a tendency to do things that throw their lives upside down.
It’s about trying to get things done in a place where you don’t understand the language or culture. It’s about how even if you’ve screwed things up in the past, you can still do something good in the present.
It’s pretty serious, but also has beautiful friendships.
Stars Camille Cottin and Lilou Siauvaud. Directed by Tom McCarthy (The Visitor). The music is by Mychael Danna.