The North American premiere of No Mercy, a film interrogating power, violence, and representation by German filmmaker Isa Willinger, is taking place this week at DOC NYC. We spoke with Isa for our TMN® Talks podcast, where she reflected on how women and non-binary directors often approach cinema “from honesty rather than distance.” The conversation opened into questions of gaze, experience, and what it means to look — not just watch.

When we spoke, Isa didn’t describe “harshness” in terms of violence. She resisted that simplification immediately. What interested her was honesty — the removal of the protective layer that usually covers representation. In her words: “They’re talking about their lives in a very honest and blunt way. And that makes them appear harsh.” The word harsh then becomes something else entirely — not brutality, but truth without performance. A refusal to soften the difficult parts of being alive.

📍 Recorded in NYC – November 2025.

🎥 A TMN® – Teens Media Network® production.

✍🏼 Interview by Pablo Herrera for TMN®.

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