Director
James Marsh
(THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING)
Stars
Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz and David Thewlis
Set in 1968, The Mercy tells the true story of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur sailor who enters The Golden Globe Race in a bid to be the first man to sail around the world solo, without stopping. Donald (played by Colin Firth) is a family man, businessman and weekend sailor who raises eyebrows by entering the race given all other entrants were accomplished sailors.
The film starts off with such promise. Colin Firth, as always, is effortlessly charming and relatable as an every-man with a passion for sailing and a desire to have something that sets him apart. Rachel Weisz as Crowhurst’s supportive, yet discerning wife is brilliant in conveying the thoughts of the viewer. Something along the lines of; ‘aww isn’t it cute he has a dream…..oh what…he’s actually going through with it?!. However the film ultimately falls away as the limitations of its protagonist become glaringly obvious.
As Crowhurst is met with one obstacle after another in the lead up to his voyage, his reluctant resolution becomes suffocating. That is one of the strengths of the film; you can’t help but feel frustrated at the predicament that Crowhurst finds himself in, but at the same time you want to scream at the fact that he seems ill-equipped to extricate himself from the situation. When a film draws you in like that, it’s an achievement in itself; however the purpose of this is what troubles me the most by the time the credits roll.
If you’re looking for a typical triumphant underdog story arc, then this isn’t the movie for you. This is an exploration of one man’s desire to step out of the shadows of mediocrity, putting everything on the line in his pursuit of greatness and ultimately becoming trapped by his over ambitious promises. It’s a glimpse into the ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality of many middle-class British men, particularly of an older generation.
At the screening I attended (at the gorgeous Sun Theatre in Yarraville) the owner of the cinema introduced the film. Interestingly, he is a sailor himself and had invited a number of local boating club members to view the film. He made mention that to him, this film was one of the more accurate cinematic portrayals of sailing and the psyche of the protagonist was one that would possibly resonate with many in the sailing fraternity (this became somewhat alarming by the end of the evening). So perhaps this film has deeper levels that others may find more value in, but for me it was a painful excursion into the needlessly selfish actions of a generation of men trapped by societal expectations.
There is a division within me when watching and now reviewing The Mercy; on one hand it is such a beautiful and interesting piece of cinema. It achieves so much in its ability to become an atmospheric vacuum; it frustrates and angers its viewer. But on the other hand it doesn’t execute this in such a way that you feel its true value. Some films you need to watch to understand something that isn’t pleasant. However with The Mercy I didn’t feel I understood anything more at the end of this movie than I did at the beginning.
2.5 stars
Moviedoc thanks Asha Holmes Publicity for the invite to the screening of this film.
Moviedoc 
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