Is Stillwater Based on a True Story? Plot and Ending Explained
by Aishwarya R
Updated May 04, 2023
StillWater
Stillwater is a 2021 crime drama-thriller film directed by Tom McCarthy and starring Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, and Abigail Breslin. The film tells the story of an American oil rig worker, Bill Baker (Matt Damon), who travels from Oklahoma to Marseille, France to visit his estranged daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin), who has been imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit.
The film follows an American college student who was convicted and later acquitted of the murder of her roommate in Italy. However, "Stillwater" takes a different approach and explores the relationship between a father and daughter, as well as the cultural differences between the United States and France.
Matt Damon delivers a strong performance as Bill, a rough and rugged blue-collar worker who is determined to prove his daughter's innocence. Camille Cottin also shines as Virginie, a French actress who befriends Bill and helps him navigate the unfamiliar legal system in France. Abigail Breslin gives a convincing portrayal of Allison, a young woman who is haunted by her past and struggling to find redemption.
The film is beautifully shot and captures the picturesque scenery of Marseille, as well as the grittier side of the city. The tension builds throughout the film as Bill delves deeper into the case and uncovers secrets that could clear his daughter's name. The film also raises thought-provoking questions about justice, forgiveness, and the lengths a parent will go to protect their child.
Stillwater is a well-crafted and emotionally powerful film that showcases the talents of its cast and director. It is a compelling and suspenseful story that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Is StillWater Based on a True Story?
Yes, Director Tom McCarthy has confirmed that the film "Stillwater" is only loosely based on the Amanda Knox case, despite being partially inspired by it. McCarthy revealed in an interview that he began working on the film's story nearly a decade ago and was drawn to Knox's case, but did not want to make a true-crime movie. Instead, he developed a fictional story centered around a father-daughter relationship.
The film follows the story of an American oil rig worker, Bill Baker, who travels from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Marseille, France to visit his daughter, Allison, who has been imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit. While the basic premise bears some resemblance to the Knox case, McCarthy insists that the movie is a different scenario with a unique perspective.
One notable difference between the film and the Knox case is the addition of a romantic angle between Allison and her murdered roommate. Additionally, the film delves into Oklahoma culture and features the roughneck father's character, adding a unique voice to the narrative. The film's focus on the father-daughter relationship serves as the story's heart, adding an emotional dimension to the plot.
Stillwater is a fictional story that has been partially inspired by true events. While the basic premise shares some similarities with the Amanda Knox case, the movie is a unique scenario with a distinct perspective that explores the complexities of a father-daughter relationship in the face of adversity.
Is Still Water Based on Amanda Knox?
The movie Stillwater, directed by Tom McCarthy, is only loosely inspired by the real-life story of Amanda Knox, who was accused of murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy. The differences between the movie and the real story are significant.
In 2007, when Knox was 20 years old, she found blood in the bathroom of her apartment in Perugia, Italy, after spending the night with her boyfriend. Kercher's locked bedroom door raised suspicions, and when the police arrived, they found her dead with a bloody duvet covering her body. Another person's DNA was found at the scene, which belonged to Rudy Guede. He later admitted being there, but denied killing Kercher.
Knox was accused of murder due to her delay in raising the alarm upon discovering the blood. In 2009, she and her boyfriend were convicted and sentenced to long prison terms. However, they were later acquitted after a new witness testified in their favor. Nevertheless, the acquittal was overturned, and they were ordered to stand trial again.
In 2013, a new piece of evidence was presented in the form of a kitchen knife that prosecutors believed was used in the murder. Although Knox's DNA was found on the knife, her legal team argued that she had only used it for cooking purposes. Knox and her boyfriend were found guilty again, but the conviction was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015, and Knox was finally free.
In short, the Amanda Knox case bears only a passing resemblance to the movie Stillwater, which is a fictional story that focuses on a father's journey to help his daughter, who is in prison in France for a crime she claims she did not commit.
Still Water Plot
The movie Stillwater depicts the story of Bill Baker, a roughneck from Stillwater, Oklahoma, who travels to Marseille, France, to visit his daughter Allison, serving a nine-year prison sentence for killing her roommate and lover, Lina. Allison asks Bill to pass a letter to her lawyer, Mrs. Leparq, stating that she heard from her former professor about a man claiming to be Lina's killer. Leparq refuses to reopen the case based on hearsay, but Bill lies to Allison that she agreed to do so.
Bill meets Virginie and her daughter Maya at his hotel, who helps him translate the letter and learns about Allison's desperation and lack of faith in his father's ability to help. The professor gives Bill the phone number of someone who claims to know Lina's killer, named Akim. Using photos of people in the social circles of Allison and Lina, they identify Akim and track him down to a housing project. However, Akim escapes while Bill is beaten by his friends after drawing too much attention.
When Bill meets Allison again, he confesses to lying about Leparq and finding Akim but not telling the police. Allison is furious with Bill for squandering her chance for exoneration and tells him never to return to the prison.
Four months later, Bill still lives in Marseille, renting a room in Virginie's apartment and working on a construction crew. During Allison's one free day out of prison, Bill thinks they reconnect, but Allison attempts suicide that night. Bill continues to visit her and reconnects with her over time. He and Virginie also become closer. One night at a soccer game, Bill sees Akim and follows him to his truck. He knocks Akim out, takes him to the apartment building's basement, and locks him up. Bill hires a private investigator to test Akim's DNA against the crime scene's evidence.
Still Water Ending Explained
Akim tells Bill that Allison hired him to kill Lina and paid him with a gold necklace that says "Stillwater." Bill begins to doubt Allison's innocence. The private investigator suspects Bill is holding Akim hostage, so he poses as a building inspector and questions Virginie. The police detain Bill, but Maya lies to protect him. Virginie demands that Bill move out.
Leparq informs Bill that new proof will allow the case to be reopened and Allison exonerated. Bill is numb. After returning to Oklahoma, Bill asks Allison about the Stillwater necklace he gave her, and she admits to hiring Akim to evict Lina but not kill her. The next morning, Allison and Bill sit on the porch and reflect on how different everything seems.
The ending of Stillwater is left somewhat open to interpretation, but it appears to suggest that Bill is struggling to come to terms with the truth about his daughter and the consequences of his actions.
After Allison is exonerated and they return to Oklahoma, Bill confronts her about the necklace he gave her with the word "Stillwater" on it. Allison admits to hiring Akim to evict Lina, but claims that she did not intend for her to be killed. This revelation shakes Bill to his core and he appears to be struggling with his own guilt and the realization that he may not have been able to save his daughter from her own mistakes.
In the final scene, Bill and Allison sit on the porch of their home in Stillwater, but while Allison remarks that everything looks the same, Bill admits that everything looks different to him, almost to the point of not recognizing it anymore. This suggests that Bill is struggling to come to terms with the reality of what has happened and the fact that he may never be able to fully understand or fix his relationship with his daughter.
The ending of Stillwater highlights the complex and often messy nature of family relationships and the consequences of our actions, even when we are trying to do what we believe is right.
Is Still Water Based on a True Story - FAQs
Stillwater is a crime thriller drama film about an oil rig worker, Bill Baker, who travels from Oklahoma to Marseille, France to visit his estranged daughter, Allison, who is serving a nine-year sentence for the murder of her roommate and former lover. Bill, who believes his daughter is innocent, sets out to find evidence that will exonerate her.
Although the movie draws inspiration from the real-life Amanda Knox case, it is not based on a true story. The director, Tom McCarthy, has said that Stillwater is a fictional story with fictional characters.
Matt Damon stars as Bill Baker, with Abigail Breslin playing his daughter Allison. Other cast members include Camille Cottin as Virginie, Deanna Dunagan as Sharon, and Idir Azougli as Akim.
The title "Stillwater" refers to the name of the town in Oklahoma where Bill Baker is from. It also has a symbolic meaning, suggesting a sense of stagnation or lack of progress, which mirrors Bill's own emotional and personal struggles throughout the film.
The movie explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the complexities of family relationships. It also delves into the ways in which cultural and linguistic barriers can affect people's ability to understand and communicate with one another. Ultimately, the message of Stillwater is that sometimes the truth can be elusive, but the bonds of family can transcend even the most difficult of circumstances.