Movie Review: Mercy ‘s Grief Directed By Adeniyi Famewo
Reviewed By Ajibare Abioye
The concept that drives the message of Mercy’s Grief is brilliantly vivid and I always appreciate productions that do the unusual. I believe in the power of the cinema – being seated before a screen where motion pictures tell a story that have the ability to touch spirit, soul and body within a given time. The “Life’s Broadcast” session in this film was an illuminating experience for me because I saw the extent to which our decisions, whether we take responsibility for them or not, go in determining our destinations in life. And at the end of the day, each person, not the ones we blame, will give account of their lives before God.
The coulda-woulda-shoulda scenario portrayed in the film is applicable to the film as well. I have no doubt about the movie Mercy’s Grief would have been with better plotting, sound design, and actor performances. The motion picture does not make judicious use of the substantial time devoted to the protagonist’s childhood. Mercy’s parents victimise their daughter, but no context or reason is given for this. It therefore doesn’t mean very much when they make a U-turn. Mercy goes through hell as a child, but we don’t see HOW that translates into the woman she becomes. Grown up, we don’t know enough about her – does she start trusting in God at a time; does she have other abortions; how does she get mixed up with the wrong crowd; at what point does she discover the complications in her health? I’m definitely not saying the movie should be longer to answer these questions; only that relevant details be included and impertinent ones removed. Simply put, the main characters lack depth. www.gospelfilmnews.com
Music plays such an important role in how a movie will be enjoyed. The mood of each scene should be studied and only the right kind of music should be used accordingly. Even having no background tune can be the best choice for certain scenes. Closely related is how the delivery of lines influences the audience. I suspect some dialogues were supposed to have comic effect in Mercy’s Grief, but they didn’t quite land because of their (phrased) delivery and the lack of snappy editing.
Back to the plotting, I have on a couple of occasions heard from a renowned drama minister that he would never again leave his message to the last scene. And I sort of see why this is necessary through this movie. Mercy’s Grief has a profound core but takes us through so much (unnecessary) rubble before we get there; not every viewer is that patient. Therefore, there must be spices on the journey to keep the audience hooked till the end, among which I think would have been exploring that Mathematics competition. Other areas in need of improvement include the sound effects, visual effects, and subtitles.
Conclusively, Mercy’s Grief features cute cinematography and a lesson for parents to nurture and be encouraging to their children. There is also a picture of hope that Jesus sees us where we are; He’s capable of turning our mess into a message, our test into a testimony, our trial into a triumph and a victim like Mercy into a victor.
Below is link to the movie:
https://youtu.be/sgoO-TLWrwA?si=aTf-130rtjG8YuUD
MERCY’S GRIEF
(August 16, 2024)
91 minutes
GACEM Films
Cast
Tomisin Esan as Mercy (Adult)
Bukola Dare as Mercy (Teenage)
Elkanah Dotun as Mr Edward
‘NIDO Bisola Ajo as Mrs Edward
Aanuniyi Famewo as Aunty Bisi
Tobi Awodele as Dennis (Teenage)
Crew
Director
Adeniyi Famewo
Story
David Ogunmilade
Screenwriter
Adeniyi Famewo
Cinematographers
Olatunde Raheem and Opeyemi Ayinla
Editor
araWONDER