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Tender Mercies - Lenten Film for Friday, March 10

The Lenten film series opening feature (The Lives of Others) was wonderfully received by an enthusiastic crowd of 20 folks who showed up at 7 PM on Friday, March 3. This was a long film and with a break in the middle the film ran until past 9:30 PM. We enjoyed conversation, popcorn, cookies, and cheese puffs both before and after the showing. But most of all we enjoyed the film.

While The Lives of Others won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 2006, the second film in the series also won an Oscar, this one being the Best Actor Oscar for Robert Duvall in 1983. It's a feel-good film of redemption based on a short story written by Horton Foote. (I learned this years ago from John Little.) I suspect that most folks in the church have seen this film, but since it's almost 35 years old many of us haven't seen it since the beginning of the digital age. And even though the story line is simple, the message is inspiring and eternal. So join us if you can in the Fellowship Hall at 7 PM this Friday (March 10). If possible, arrive early for some pre-movie conversation and to get some snacks to take to your seat for the movie. This movie is about 45 minutes shorter than the previous film, so this week we'll take a leisurely break in the middle and still finish early with plenty of time to chat about the movie afterwards for those who are inclined toward post-movie conversation.

March 10: Tender Mercies

A broken-down, middle-aged country singer gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter, and tries to put his troubled life back together. Robert Duvall won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in this film.

Director: Bruce Beresford
Writer: Horton Foote
Stars: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 10 June 1983
Runtime: 92 min