Stillwater (2021)

When a hard‑working oil‑rig worker finds himself stranded in Marseille, the film pulls you into a quiet, relentless quest that feels like a devotion rather than drama. Its strength is in how it turns a Midwest roughneck into a new Parisian, using the city’s law and language as a character in its own right. Joaquin Phoenix carries each scene with almost no dialogue, making every silence feel weighty and impossible to ignore. A sliver of its pacing drifts in the second act, giving some moments a sluggish feel. If you enjoy immersive character studies that linger long after the credits roll, this one will resonate.