There are three outcomes to starting pointless in this way: absurd, ironic, tragic, or sublimated in pain. Although this film is the closest to the latter two, it does its best to avoid unnecessary moaning. Whether it's a marriage proposal, the accidental death of my daughter, or my own final recognition, it's just plain bland, just like our lives. This kind of story metaphor closest to life itself makes it timeless. And moved by tenderness and compassion.
Facing life directly, such as "Seven Years of Life" and "Boyhood", most of them show the ordinary beauty in the details through the large-scale imprint of time. Just like a delayed photography, the characters’ ten years of time are laid out in a few hours. You grow up with them, fall in love, and grow old. Their time is accepted by you without reservation. The resulting emotional dynamism brings our past to life. Compared with this, "Tender Mercy" is only about life. The time span is only a few months. What we are moved is the story, the characters, and the love.
The film has always maintained restraint, striving to approach all the bland cycles of life, while maintaining the consciousness of a musical film. The country music interspersed from time to time is gentle and delicate. These will be the most vivid display of sadness. Especially when Mac attended his daughter's funeral, he stood alone in front of the coffin for a long time, and it was less than a month since he saw his daughter again after eight years. Then on the farm, he complained to the woman that he never believed in a damn fate. Not only for the unfortunate death of his daughter, but also for his downfall.
Fortunately, he has received the mercy from love and recognition, and his wishes can be played again.
This is life, full of regrets and imperfections, which is what makes him so charming, and God's tender mercy often comes at this time.
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