Mercy

Original title: Nåde

Directed by Hedda Mjøen

After a chance encounter with her estranged best friend Petter, who stands accused of rape, Guro is thrust into a harrowing moral dilemma: should she stand by him, risking her own reputation and sense of self, or sever the tie, abandoning someone she once trusted most? MERCY premiered at the 48th Norwegian Short Film Festival, where it won the Golden Chair award for Best Norwegian Short, and it also won Best Short film at the Norwegian film award Amanda. The film’s stark, unflinching narrative examines the fragile line between loyalty and judgment, forcing audiences to wrestle with uncomfortable questions about friendship, stigma, and how quickly trust fractures under accusation.