Mercy

Mercy

Year: 2023

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Emma Dante

Drama

In a desolate coastal wasteland, three prostitutes find solace caring for Arturo, a young man with a developmental disability. They live amongst a community of outcasts struggling with poverty, ignorance, and violence. Arturo's mother died giving birth, and the women took him in as an infant, providing him with care and companionship in a harsh and unforgiving world. The film explores his uncertain future within this challenging environment.

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Timeline & Setting – Mercy (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mercy (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Mercy Hospital (United States), Afghanistan

The action centers on Mercy Hospital, a major urban medical center in the United States that becomes a battleground during a hostage crisis. The Afghanistan backdrop appears as a memory tying Michelle to her late husband, anchoring the emotional stakes in a real-world trauma context. Inside the hospital, corridors and wards transform into high-stakes zones where medical staff, police, and criminals collide under pressure.

🏥 Hospital setting 🛡️ Crisis in progress 👥 Hostage situation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:09

Main Characters – Mercy (2023)

Meet the key characters of Mercy (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Michelle Miller

A casualty surgeon at Mercy Hospital who bears the weight of her husband’s death in Afghanistan. When the Quinns storm the hospital, she fights to protect her son Bobby, using medical prowess and quick thinking to navigate gunfire and hostage tensions. Her resolve under pressure defines the film’s moral center.

💪 Strength 👩‍⚕️ Doctor 🧠 Quick thinker

Bobby Miller

Michelle’s young son who becomes a hostage during the siege. He hides and endures the danger with surprising resilience, grounding the story in the personal stakes of a parent’s fight to keep him safe.

👦 Son 🧭 Resilience 🤝 Family bond

Sean Quinn

The ruthless leader of the Quinn faction who hijacks the hospital in a bid to retrieve Ryan. His volatile temper and willingness to kill anyone who stands in the way make him the primary antagonist and a catalyst for the crisis.

⚔️ Antagonist 🔥 Violent 🧭 Family loyalty (twisted)

Paddy Quinn

The family patriarch who navigates the criminal enterprise and tries to keep the peace within the clan. His confrontation with Sean reveals a fractured father-son dynamic and the costs of leading a crime family.

👨‍👦 Family ties 🧭 Power and responsibility ⚖️ Conflict

Ryan Quinn

Sean’s brother whose ties to the FBI become pivotal to the hostage situation. He provides the leverage that prompts the eventual exchange, highlighting the collision of organized crime with law enforcement.

🕵️‍♂️ Informant 🧠 Strategist 🔗 Family conflict

Dr. Terrance

Michelle’s friend at the hospital who becomes a victim when a bomb vest is activated. His fate underscores the deadly stakes of the siege and the human cost of the criminals’ plan.

💔 Victim 🧯 Innocent casualty 🕊️ Sacrifice

Ellis

An FBI agent who partners with McBride to manage the siege, hide Ryan, and ultimately help coordinate the police response. He embodies professional restraint and commitment to saving lives.

🕵️‍♂️ Agent 🧭 Duty 🗡️ Resolve

McBride

An FBI agent who is deeply involved in the pursuit of the Quinns and the protection of hostages. He is killed as the situation escalates, highlighting the perils faced by law enforcement in such crises.

🕵️‍♂️ Agent ⚰️ Sacrifice 🛡️ Protectors

Johnno

One of Sean’s henchmen who pursues hostages and is ultimately killed by Michelle. His presence heightens the threat level and the urgency of the confrontation.

🔫 Henchman 💥 Threat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:09

Major Themes – Mercy (2023)

Explore the central themes of Mercy (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Courage Under Fire

During the siege, characters must act with decisive bravery under extreme danger. Michelle uses her medical skills in combat-adapted ways to protect her son and others, showing that courage can be precise and selfless even in life-threatening moments. The film highlights small, fearless choices that keep people alive when every second counts.

⚖️ Moral Dilemmas

Loyalty to family clashes with legal duties and the danger of crossing lines for love. Paddy’s attempts to manage the gang’s actions collide with the law and personal responsibility, while Michelle weighs saving individuals against broader tactical risks. The narrative probes how choices in crisis reveal true priorities.

💔 Trauma and Loss

The present crisis is inseparable from Michelle’s past grief over her husband’s death in Afghanistan. The story traces how trauma motivates protective acts, resilience, and the search for healing amid chaos. Loss threads through characters’ decisions, shaping their resolve and sacrifices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:09

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Mercy Summary

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Mercy Summary

Mercy Timeline

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Mercy Timeline

Mercy Spoiler-Free Summary

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Mercy Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Mercy

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