THE MERCY
UK, 2018, 98 minutes, Colour.
Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz, David Thewlis, Ken Stott, Mark Gattis, Andrew Buchan, Simon Mc Burney.
Directed by James Marsh.
This film is based on a true story, the experience of sailor, Donald Crowhurst, in 1969. For those who know how the story ends, it is an interesting unfolding of the events. For those who do not remember the story, it is something of a suspense film.
The film opens with a speech by Sir Francis Chichester who broke a record of sailing around the world alone. The British Sunday Times then suggests a competition for sailing around the world, non-stop. It is to be a media event.
In the coastal city of Teignmouth, Donald Crowhurst is something of an inventor who also enjoys sailing with his wife and children. We first see him at a show trying to persuade people to buy an invention which would help in establishing locations while at sea. He fails. Crowhurst makes quite an impression on screen as he is played by Colin Firth. Rachel Weisz is his wife.
However, he is quite excited by the Times competition and decides that he will participate. This means making his own boat, catamaran style. It means that he has to raise money, relying very much on a local businessman played by Ken Stott. He also has an agent-friend, David Thewliss, who helps him with the planning, with the finances, with public relations. The voyage will take at least six months.
The first question raised is why would Donald Crowhurst undertake such an adventure. Did he really think he would win? Was there something missing his life that this voyage would compensate for? As we listen to Crowhurst talking with his wife and his sponsors, we realise that he was at a stage of life where he needed something to prove himself, to himself and to others.
There are many scenes at sea, sailing successfully, becalmed, storms. Not all his equipment works perfectly. And he keeps in radio contact with his wife and family and with those backing him at home.
He experiences a crisis, his sailing progress not as much as he anticipated. And he experiences a crisis in himself, whether he is as good as he thought, whether he can persevere, what would he do if he did not make as much progress as hoped for.
It soon appears that he is not succeeding. His temptation is to alter his log, to create a false impression, to keep going – not necessarily to win, actually realising that had better not, but, at least, complete the course. This is exacerbated after long weeks of sailing because The Times becomes more interested.
The scenes at sea are punctuated by some flashbacks, some scenes of family at Teignmouth, his PR man and assistant doing their best, and the media, somehow rather, getting to hear about him and his becoming something of a headline.
The moral dilemma begins to consume him – and whether there is any mercy or forgiveness for his deception.
A film of endurance, of some heroism, and of some moral ambiguity.
1. The film based on a true story? The records? The publicity? The mystery?
2. A film of the sea, the love of boats and water? Sir Francis Chichester and his circumnavigating the globe? The Sunday Times and a new competition, non-stop around the world? The range of competitors?
3. The town of Teignmouth? The harbour, the town, homes, shops? The screenplay reverting to the town throughout the voyage? The musical score?
4. The open sea, the catamaran on the sea, the range of weather, calm, storms? The quality of the catamaran? The stores, the engineering, the generator, communications, food and water? The accidents?
5. Colin Firth as Donald Crowhurst? Age, experience? His love for Claire? Love for his children? At the exhibition? Electronics, the device for establishing positions at sea? Attempting sales? His sailing, love of the water? Hearing about the contest? Peaking his interest, his abilities? Hopes? For himself?
6. The film described as a version of a midlife crisis? Crowhurst, his age and experience, success in life, failures? His marriage and happiness, his family? His love for sailing? The decision to go to sea, competitive, the prize money? The obsession, the building of the boat, the appeal for funds from Mr Best? The PR connections? Difficulties, delays? His plans in building the boat, the catamaran? Wanting to achieve, to change his life, his personality?
7. The character of Clare, love, supporting her husband, wariness about the journey? The discussions with him? Supporting him? The communications throughout the voyage? Her appearing to him in the boat at the end? Her strong words to the journalists and blaming them at the final press conference? The children, love for their father, sharing with him, sailing? The phone calls, communication, gifts? His wanting to achieve something so that his children could be proud?
8. The details of the journey, his promise, the difficulties, bailing out the water, the balance out of action, the gash in the side of the boat? Dealing with the storms? Communications? Listening to the achievements of the other competitors?
9. Slow progress, his looking at the maps, the temptation, his altering the maps, lying about his progress? Yet the amount of sea that he covered?
10. The gash, landing in Argentina, the authorities, lack of passport, suspicions of being a smuggler, letting him go on? The fact that he went on land?
11. The further journey, the other competitors going out, his wanting the final competitor to win, then his getting out? The dilemmas for Crowhurst, truth, concealment, the sin, not able to justify his win?
12. The media, the Sunday Times, the announcement with Chichester, the competition, the conditions? The local PR and his assistant, eager, helping, publishing stories? The Sunday Times picking them up, amplifying his achievement?
13. Mr Best, caravans, a good friend, the money, extra time, extra money?
14. Crowhurst in Bermuda, facing his reality, the touches of madness, his wife appearing? Cutting the anchor rope? His decision to go into the water, his disappearance? Leaving the logbooks?
15. A story of potential achievement, British achievement? And the reality?
