Mercy

Mercy

A meeting of two women, a reckoning between two worlds.

MERCY is the story of an unexpected friendship between two women from opposite worlds: ANNA, a British journalist posted to Kenya in 1999, and MERCY, who lives in Nairobi's largest slum. As Mercy and Anna form an improbable but genuine bond, their desire for empowerment and emancipation takes them on a journey together against the larger social and political forces holding them back.

From the producers of Academy Award and BAFTA nominee PINA, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner ANATOMY OF A FALL and Academy Award and BAFTA winner THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, MERCY is critically acclaimed director Emily Atef’s (PLUS QUE JAMAIS, 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON, SOMEDAY WE’ll TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING) first English language feature. Set in 1990s Kenya, MERCY is a large canvas film that combines global social and political stakes with emotional tenderness, intimacy and humour – as well as an inspiring portrait of the struggle to overcome racial prejudice. With two dynamic women from different worlds on a life changing journey at its heart, this is a story of a rich and transformative friendship. From a director at the height of her powers, MERCY is a film about sisterhood, solidarity and the connection that shines an overdue light on the pivotal role of women in grassroots activism and political change.

Director Emily Atef has proven she can generate a strong and deep emotion in audiences with the painful precision she draws from the female characters in her work. With her feature films SOMEDAY WE’LL TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING (Berlinale Competition 2023) and MORE THAN EVER (Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2022), she has established herself internationally as one of the most exciting contemporary directors. Further proof of that is her work on the Emmy-winning BBC series KILLING EVE (2022).

The film is currently in pre-production and expected to launch at a major film festival in 2025.