Stillwater 2021

In a poignant display of paternal devotion, oil worker Bill Baker (no actor mentioned) embarks on a transcontinental journey from Stillwater, Oklahoma to Marseille, France, seeking to reconnect with his daughter Allison, who has been incarcerated for five years following her conviction for murdering her roommate and lover, Lina. Upon meeting with Allison in the French prison system, Bill becomes aware of her desperate quest for justice through a note she hands him, which he is compelled to pass on to her defense attorney, Mme. Leparq. The lawyer’s reluctance to reopen the case due to the new information being hearsay-based only fuels Bill’s determination to uncover the truth.

Bill’s initial interactions with the locals lead him to Virginie and her daughter Maya, who become instrumental in his quest for answers. As he delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Lina’s murder, Bill finds himself drawn into a complex web of relationships and deception. His meeting with Allison’s former professor yields a crucial phone number, which ultimately leads him to Akim, the individual claiming to be Lina’s killer.

As Bill navigates the intricate social media landscape, he enlists Virginie’s assistance in tracking down people connected to Allison and Lina. The resulting photos are then used to identify Akim, setting the stage for a series of events that will test Bill’s resolve and force him to confront the harsh realities of his daughter’s situation.

Following a series of setbacks and disappointments, including a brutal beating at the hands of Akim’s friends, Bill is left reeling. His subsequent confession to Allison about his failure to secure her release only serves to further estrange them, leading to a heart-wrenching confrontation that ultimately results in Allison’s decree that Bill never return to visit her again.

Four months later, Bill finds himself still in Marseille, living with Virginie and Maya while working on a construction crew. It is here that he witnesses Akim at an Olympique de Marseille match and seizes the opportunity to confront him. A violent confrontation ensues, with Bill ultimately subduing Akim and locking him away in the basement of their apartment building. As Bill implores Maya to keep his actions secret, it becomes clear that his determination to uncover the truth has led him down a treacherous path from which there is no turning back.

As Bill’s investigative endeavors reach a fever pitch, he commissions a private detective to conduct a clandestine analysis of Akim’s hair sample against the DNA evidence gathered at the crime scene. The revelation comes as a shock to Akim himself, who confides in Bill that it was actually Allison who had hired him to eliminate Lina, paying him with a gold necklace bearing the enigmatic word “Stillwater”. As the truth begins to unravel, Bill’s faith in Allison’s innocence starts to waver. Meanwhile, the private investigator playing the role of a building inspector stirs up suspicion among Virginie by probing for any unusual odors or sounds emanating from the basement, which she dismisses despite her growing unease. The police are eventually summoned and apprehend Bill, only to conduct a fruitless search of the basement before questioning Maya, who attempts to cover her tracks by feigning ignorance about Akim’s abduction.

As the authorities depart, Virginie is filled with a sense of trepidation upon learning how Bill had tracked down and captured Akim. She demands that he vacate the premises for putting Maya at risk during Akim’s kidnapping.

Later, Leparq meets with Bill to deliver the stunning news that Allison has been exonerated through DNA evidence. However, Bill’s subdued reaction only serves to further perplex Leparq.

Upon their triumphant return to Oklahoma, where they are greeted as heroes, Bill turns his attention to Allison and presses her about the Stillwater necklace he had given her upon her departure for Marseille. As tears stream down her face, Allison confesses to having hired Akim, but insists that she never intended for Lina’s demise. Despite this revelation, Bill remains steadfast in his support of Allison, acknowledging that even the most seemingly impeccable families may harbor hidden flaws. Meanwhile, his gaze drifts toward the distant horizon, where the once-familiar landscape of Stillwater now appears to have undergone a transformation, reflecting the turmoil that has beset their lives.