Notes on TENDER MERCIES: Introductory Sequence
Scene 1: Introduces
main characters
First night scene
Visual metaphor: Mac
hits bottom & is "faceless"
Scene 2: Editing
to contrast: day replaces night
Focus on Mac's
psychological state
Establish context of
landscape
Mise en scene:
Character proxemics, public distance (long shot)
Composition: bottle of whiskey in foreground
Outside
public world vs. Mac's private hell
Scene 3: First
relationships
Camera movement sets up
Mac / Sonny relationship
Mise en scene: Staging positions (they face opposite directions)
Scene 4: Three
lives compared
Parallel editing Rosa
Lee working vs. Mac working
Sonny looking for
"father"
Mom busy working to
support her child
Mise en scene:
Mac's introspection, staging position, composition,
lighting,
Voice-over connects him
to Rosa Lee and Sonny
Scene 5: Mac and
Rosa Lee relationship
Expanse of landscape
sets the scene
Proxemics change: social
distance, LS, changes to personal distance, MS
Parallel editing
(reverse angle shots) compare Mac and Rosa Lee
Mise en scene: Rosa Lee
above Mac in the frame
Editing
Sonny's
reaction shot included within parallel editing track
between
Mac and Rosa Lee
Scene 6: Mac
passes a test
Mise en scene
Rosa Lee
again stands above Mac in the frame
Proxemics
change: he moves to a personal distance, hands money
to
her
Scene 7: Rewards
of passing the test
Mise en scene:
Mac joins
the family within the frame
Second night scene (compare to first one)
Scene 7 = one shot
Scene 8: Mac and Sonny's developing relationship
Moving camera connects
them (both are in frame together)
Theme: Mac passes on
values, like a "father"
Scene 8 = one shot
Tender Mercies - 2
Scene 9: Mac and
Rosa Lee's developing relationship
Parallel editing: Mac in
trailer, Rosa Lee in house simultaneous action
Compare lighting of two
scenes
Theme: Mac is beginning
to write songs again; healing process
has begun
Sound: Mac singing his
song, effect on Rosa Lee
Mise en scene:
Staging
positions: Rosa Lee tries to "turn away from
Mac,"
but
she can't
Third night
scene: compare to other two
Scene 10: Mac,
Rosa Lee, and Sonny together
Mise en scene
All three in frame together, in front seat of truck
Proxemics change: social to personal distance, yet adults
are
uncomfortable
At church: Mac is at low angle, elevated, and Sonny
stands below
him
In choir:
Rosa Lee is "part" of the community
Outside
church: Mac stands above Rosa Lee for first time
Editing: church shown as
part of landscape, Mac and Sonny
together vs. Rosa Lee singing in choir
Scene 11: Mac,
Rosa Lee, and Sonny watching television
Fourth night scene:
compare to others
Mise en scene:
Characters in frame allows continuous action for sharing
stories, suggests union
First time Mac sits next to Rosa Lee (a "date")
Editing: Reaction shot
of Sonny interrupts their "date"
Scene 12: The
proposal
Editing
Long shots of landscape remind us of context of
characters,
impact of environment
Proxemics changes within parallel editing track, from LS
to
MS because characters have formed emotional
bonds
Parallel
editing unites characters
Mise en scene: low angle
of Mac; now he's Rosa Lee's equal
Themes: family comes
first, work hard, be honest, etc.
Notes written by
Robert E. Yahnke
Professor, General College, Univ. of
Minnesota
Copyright by Robert E. Yahnke, ©
2001
Permission granted for reprinting for
educational use only