Why My Days of Mercy (2017) is the Ultimate Underrated Lesbian Romance

If you’re deep in the lesbian movie rabbit hole like I am, you probably already know that feeling when you stumble across a gem nobody talks about. My Days of Mercy (2017) is exactly that kind of treasure. It’s messy, it’s hot, it’s heartbreaking, and yes – it’s unapologetically lesbian in the best way possible.

The story follows Lucy Moro (Elliot Page, back when he was still presenting as Ellen Page), a young woman who spends her weekends protesting outside prisons on the days of executions because her father is on death row for a crime he says he didn’t commit. On the other side of the police line stands Mercy (Kate Mara), whose sister was murdered and who believes the death penalty is justice. Two women who should hate each other… but the chemistry? Electric from minute one.

Let’s be real: the second these two lock eyes across that protest line, you know exactly where this is going. And honey, it goes there. Hard. The first kiss scene in the motel bathroom? I had to pause and fan myself. The tension, the way Mercy just grabs Lucy and kisses her like she’s been starving for it – peak lesbian energy.

What I love most is that the movie never treats their relationship like some “forbidden gay thing” that needs extra justification. They’re two adults who are insanely attracted to each other, they hook up, they fall stupidly in love, and the world around them just has to deal with it. The lesbian sex scenes are actually sexy (rare!), shot with dim lights and real desire instead of that awkward straight-gaze nonsense we usually get. Kate Mara and Elliot Page have chemistry that jumps off the screen – you believe every touch, every fight, every tear.

But this isn’t just a hot lesbian romance (though it’s definitely that). The film digs deep into the death penalty debate without ever feeling preachy. Lucy and Mercy force each other to question everything they thought they knew. Mercy starts wondering if the system that gave her “justice” actually took an innocent man. Lucy has to face the fact that maybe her father isn’t the saint she needs him to be. It’s heavy, and it hurts, and it makes the moments when they’re just holding each other feel like oxygen.

The supporting cast is great too – Amy Seimetz and Elias Koteas as Lucy’s siblings, Brian Geraghty being quietly heartbreaking – but let’s be honest, we’re all here for Lucy and Mercy. The way Mercy says “I’m not good at this” while literally climbing on top of Lucy? Gay culture. The way Lucy writes “I miss you” on Mercy’s foggy car window? I felt that in my soul.

The ending… look, I’m not going to spoil it completely, but bring tissues. Actually, bring the whole box. It’s one of those movies that leaves you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. thinking about every ex who ever broke your heart.

Why isn’t this movie talked about more in lesbian circles? Probably because it came out in 2017, got limited release, and then disappeared into streaming hell. Do yourself a favor and hunt it down (it’s on several platforms depending on your country). If you loved Carol, Imagine Me & You, or Portrait of a Lady on Fire but wished they had more explicit makeout sessions and moral complexity – this is your movie.

My Days of Mercy isn’t perfect. Some side plots feel underdeveloped, and the pacing drags a little in the second act. But when a film gives us a raw, passionate, complicated lesbian love story that doesn’t end with someone dying just because they’re gay… we take those wins where we can get them.

So yeah, if you’re looking for your next lesbian comfort (or heartbreak) watch, put My Days of Mercy at the top of your list. Lucy and Mercy will wreck you in the best way possible.

Have you seen it yet? Drop your favorite scene in the comments – I’m still not over that gas station moment, you know the one.