Tender Mercies (1983)

	Directed by: Bruce Beresford	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Sangen til livet RUNNING TIME 89 minutes
	Produced by: Philip S. Hobel
	Written by: Horton Foote

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Mac Sledge	Robert Duvall
Rosa Lee	Tess Harper
Dixie	Betty Buckley
Harry	Wilford Brimley	½
Sue Anne	Ellen Barkin	½
Sonny	Allan Hubbard
Robert	Lenny von Dohlen	½
Reporter	Paul Gleason

Review

Stripped, unpretentious and inherently pragmatic film about the convalescence of former country star Mac Sledge, currently down-and-out and looking for a way up. Tender Mercies is as low-key and unshowy as a film about a comeback can possibly be. Then again, this isn't really about a comeback in the conventional way, but rather on a personal, fundamental level. The approach by director Bruce Beresford, which may come off as stilted and methodically unromantic, gradually grows on you and gets its intentions across. Robert Duvall's subdued lead doesn't really show him in full stride, yet it's a convincing and considerable performance that might be more recognisable to the average viewer than most film protagonists are. Tess Harper hasn't quite got the scope to match him, but Beresford largely protects her from having to deal with that, and ultimately he guides his film to a beautiful, simple finale.