By: Malasha Parker
With many sexual assault films continuing to emerge throughout the years Mercy adds its own unique perspective to the mix. It is a film that doesn’t have the protagonist take a side, but manages to show the many perspectives of how people discuss sexual assault cases from a firsthand and distant points of views. This Norwegian short film intricately displays how those you are associated with can have an effect on your life and also cause disruption to your own personal relationships with people. It’s a movie that makes the audience question why they also may jump to conclusions in situations like these, but also develop disdain for the individual who wants to remain neutral.
Mercy opens by immediately making the audience feel the discomfort of what has transpired before even learning about the situation. Former friends Guro (Gine Cornelia Pedersen) and Petter (Eivin Nilsen Salthe) run into one another at the liquor store. Their initial hello to each other is very timid, but they quickly start to warm up. When Petter mentions that he hasn’t been doing well due to his current situation of being ridiculed by the media, Guro begins to profusely apologize for not contacting him sooner about it. Before leaving the store, they agree to meet for dinner at his place soon. When Guro tells her friends about the interaction, they immediately start to get mad for her seemingly being on Petter’s side. Guro tells them she isn’t choosing a side, but that she just doesn’t know what is actually true. For her friends, being accused of rape by multiple women seems like an obvious choice of whose side to be on. However, Guro explains that it is because of who she’s known Petter to be and how she has witnessed him act at parties. The conversation gets heated just as much as the sauna they are all occupying. She tells them she is going to his house for dinner and they warn her about being associated with him, whether he did it or not. Guro doesn’t think it will do any harm and decides to attend the dinner anyway. The unease is still in the air when Guro meets Petter again, but they try to revert back to old times when they were still best friends and take a photo together. While Guro is at work the photo gets posted by Petter. The people she is discussing a deal with quickly let her know how they feel about it as she receives a phone call from Petter’s attorney. Through the expressions on Guro’s face in the final moments you can finally see her realize how everyone else’s perspective also matters and cannot be escaped.
Director Hedda Mjøen delivers an uncomfortable, but distinct look at reputation, accountability and self in the direction of the film Mercy. The movie makes audiences question their beliefs and morals. It’s not a film necessarily meant to show you who is in the right or wrong, but of how easily everything can change because of an accusation. The media will have a story, the accused will have a story and the victims will have a story. When someone you may never have met is accused of something, the idea of defending them or not immediately believing what they have been accused of may seem easy or quick for some. However, when it’s a close personal friend the choice may be harder to make and that is what Mjøen is trying to show through these tough conversations and interactions.
The increase and decrease in noise throughout the film adds to the emotions felt while watching. The long and intimate shots of the characters from a distance or close up view, show incitement into how they are personally feeling or how their head is spinning at the news they are hearing. The particular scene where this is exposed the most is in the sauna when Guro is discussing her encounter with Petter.
Mercy is a film that will show a realistic view of the outside conversations of sexual violence. Whether the audience agrees with the protagonist or not, Mercy will leave audiences with something to discuss in depth. And what are films for if not to bring about conversation?