THE MERCY
This film is based on a true story about a man who was either a Lovable Eccentric or a Crazy Egomaniac depending on your point of view. His name is Donald Crowhurst and since he is played by Colin Firth we are naturally sympathetic to him, especially given that the early scenes establish that he loves his family, comprising wife Rachel Weisz and three adorable children. The year is 1968 and Donald, a somewhat unsuccessful inventor, gets the idea into his head to enter the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, a single-handed, round-the-world yacht race. It's a crazy idea because Donald is at best only an amateur sailor, and because to raise the money to build a boat he has to give his house and business as security. His wife is unbelievably supportive. Early on I think she is just humouring him (fair enough) but you'd think that she'd blow a fuse at the idea of their home and livelihood being put at risk. Then again it was 1968 and women were expected to be subservient....