In “Stillwater”, which was shown out of competition in Cannes, Matt Damon plays the American Bill Baker, who tries to help his daughter, who is imprisoned in Marseille. Damon, 50 but looking ten years younger, is a simple, gruff American who wants to free his daughter from prison, who is here for a murder she claims not to have committed. In Marseille, Bill meets Virginie (Camille Cottin) who tries to help him because he neither knows the city nor speaks French. Plus, he’s what people generally call the typical American: baseball cap, checked lumberjack shirt, and poorly cut jeans. So you are guaranteed to attract attention in the south of France.
“Bill comes from the heart of Trump country, he’s part of that culture,” said Matt Damon in Cannes. “It looks like it’s the standard Hollywood setup: a dad who takes the pressure off his daughter and does whatever he can to help her. But it’s actually a reverse of that because the guy has no skills. He doesn’t understand the language, he doesn’t understand the culture. He doesn’t really understand where he is. ” This constellation results in a rather humorous film experience.
Director Tom McCarthy shot “Stillwater” mostly on location.
– © Katharina Sartena
Director Tom McCarthy wanted the filming in Marseille to be as authentic as possible. “In many ways, it is structurally my most complicated film,” said McCarthy, whose film “Spotlight” won an Oscar for Best Picture in 2016. “Stillwater” was shot almost entirely on location and includes a key scene filmed during a real game at the Stade Velodrome, home of Olympique Marseille. “A team with an incredible heart and incredible fans. The energy in this stadium and the filming there was a special experience,” said McCarthy.
The actor was aware that Matt Damon plays an employee of a large oil company in “Stillwater” and as such is close to the Trump electorate.
“These guys don’t apologize for who they are,” said Damon. The actor and McCarthy toured Oklahoma prior to filming, where they were invited to the break rooms and backyard barbecues of the men who inspired the character. Research on site, so to speak. “You are in the oil business, of course you voted for Trump,” Damon said of Bill. “The research there was important. We observed the smallest details, like wearing a certain type of blue jeans that had been treated with fire retardants, which changed the way these guys walk. They all have goatees and The sunglasses. They’re not six-pack types, but they’re strong. They go to their barbecues and they start singing hymns with the guitar. “
It is a Trump-era America that “Stillwater” depicts, and the way America is viewed in Europe is also an important part of the dramaturgy. One would like more films that deal with this time.
