Life is a curious thing at times – and for families going through greater challenges, especially those in more family-oriented cultures such as Asian communities, there is always greater conundrums and dilemmas. Such is what faces one such family in writer-director Mitul Patel‘s new drama MERCY.
Stradding multiple flashbacks with the present, Shekhar (Raj Vasudeva) is not overly sure of what could happen in the future. Facing imminent fatherhood with his wife Jiya (Niharica Raizada), he is coming to terms with the advancing years of his mother, Sujata (Aparna Ghoshal) .
Amidst these troubles, there is also the simmering brotherly rivalry of his brother Vihaan (Kunal Bhan), a not-so-successful entrepreneur whose latest venture is to be the next big thing in music.
Dreams, family and loyalty are all tested to the limit, even more so when the mother suddenly falls ill and the family has to make a tough choice – whether to extend her life, or prolong her death…..
Slow-burner of a drama that embraces Indian culture to a greater degree than some Bollywood offerings that play many a time on weekends. Whilst the narrative is simplistic and slight, it provides a stable frame to explore key themes of love and family and the tough choices that each of us have to make when the going gets tough.
The debate about assisted suicide and euthanasia has been bubbling under for years in the political arena. MERCY, whilst it doesn’t have the context of the bigger discussions that a film like this may provoke in the wider angle, it does provide food for thought in the context of the domestic life that these characters are attempting to lead.
Good performances all round in this modest indie that attempts to offer some emotional balance and perhaps a thought or two amongst the audience.
MERCY plays on 10th October 2025 at the London Independent Film Festival 2025.
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