Tender Mercies

A quiet, meditative character study about the solitary path to recovery and redemption, Tender Mercies is a deliberately measured, stoical drama that dawdles along from one seemingly apathetic moment to the next. Much like the story's central protagonist, the film haphazardly kicks rocks while leisurely walking down a lonely dirt road as if without purpose or reason — an aimless stroll without an intended destination and unsure of exactly where it wants to end. From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Academy Award-winner Horton Foote, the script's unhurried, methodical pace is precisely the point, a series of vignettes in a person's life seeking to atone for their past transgressions but uncertain of how to accomplish that or if there is a specific end goal in mind. In the tradition of the Southern Gothic, Foote's story waywardly unfolds and culminates in an emotional conclusion that lingers long after. 

The film opens with the angry, unintelligible shouts and brawl of two men inside the room of a roadside motel & gas station. The owner and her son curiously listen from a distance but ultimately, walk away not wanting to intervene or be involved. The next morning, we find Robert Duvall's Mac Sledge waking from a drunken stupor, surrounded by the wreckage of the previous night's debauchery. It's a simple visual metaphor for the aftermath of Mac's alcoholism and disregard for those close enough to be harmed by his addiction. When apologizing to widowed motel owner Rosa Lee (Tess Harper) and offering to work for her in exchange for the damage he caused, it's clear the once-famous and renowned country singer has hit rock bottom. The exchange is awkward and embarrassing, especially for someone who had it all at one point in their life but is now asking for help from a complete stranger. 

It's a quietly subtle moment that becomes emblematic for the rest of the film. To all appearances, the conversations appear random and futile, yet we can't shake this feeling they are nonetheless meaningful to Mac, gaining out sympathies and curiosity to watch his journey at becoming a better person. Stories about addiction are often conventional tales about the habit itself with shocking scenes of characters satisfying their cravings while struggling to escape the hell of their disease. But Foote has us look at what happens after the person has escaped that hell, that part of the struggle is also staying sober and working at rebuilding a new life. For Mac, this means marrying Rosa Lee, being a good parent to her son Sonny (Allan Hubbard) and preferring to being largely forgotten. However, his former life and fame continue to haunt him, bringing a set of unforeseen challenges to his newfound liberation. 

Australian director Bruce Beresford (Breaker Morant, Driving Miss Daisy) jumps from one scene and conversation to another without an end or beginning, plodding along at a pace that leaves audiences contemplating the point of it all. This complements how Mac feels when visited by nearby fan Robert (Lenny Von Dohlen), leader of a local country-western band wanting to see him back on stage, but Mac fails to see the point. Things are further complicated after seeing his ex-wife Dixie (Betty Buckley), briefly reuniting with his estranged daughter Sue Anne (Ellen Barkin) and attempting to sell new songs to his old friend and Dixie's manager Harry (Wilford Brimley). However, Beresford masterfully ties everything together for an unexpectedly captivating and beautifully satisfying conclusion that seems to come out of nowhere, revealing that even a leisurely walk can steer you to exactly where you need to be.  

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Kino Lorber and StudioCanal bring Bruce Beresford's Tender Mercies to Blu-ray on a Region A locked, BD50 disc inside the standard blue keepcase and reversible cover art. At startup, viewers are taken directly to a static main menu with music playing in the background.