Proof (1991 film)

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Proof

Directed by	Jocelyn Moorhouse
Written by	Jocelyn Moorhouse
Starring	Hugo Weaving, Geneviève Picot, Russell Crowe
Release date(s)	1991
Language	English
IMDb profile

Proof is a 1991 Australian film by Jocelyn Moorhouse starring Hugo Weaving, Geneviève Picot and Russell Crowe. It was chosen as "Best Film" at the 1991 Australian Film Institute Awards, along with 5 other awards, including Moorhouse for "Best Director", Weaving for "Best Leading Actor", and Crowe for "Best Supporting Actor".

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story concerns the tribulations of Martin (Weaving), a blind man. Through a series of flashbacks, Martin is shown as a child, distrustful of his own mother, as she descibed to him the garden outside his bedroom window. She tells him that someone is raking leaves, but can't hear the sound and angrily decides she is lying to him.

This childhood experience strongly affects Martin as an adult, as he anticipates that sighted people will take advantage of his blindness to lie to him, or worse yet, pity him. He has become a resentful, vaguely bitter person who spends his days taking photographs of the world around him, then having various people describe them. He uses these photographs (and the Braille descriptions he stamps on them) as "proof" that the world around him really is as others describe it to him. He also takes secret pleasure in rebuking the romantic advances of Celia (Picot), his housekeeper. Celia harbors a deeply seated (and possibly obsessive, as evidenced by the scores of photographs of him adorning the walls of her flat) affection for Martin, and takes out her frustration at his unrequited love by tormenting him in small ways, such as rearranging the furniture in his house.

One day, Martin encounters Andy (Crowe), and is pleased with the depth and detail with which Andy describes his photos. The two become fast friends, and Martin soon comes to trust him implicitly. The jealous Celia is threatened by Andy's increasing presence in Martin's life. She seduces Andy, and when Martin catches the two in the act, Andy reluctantly lies to him about it. Celia recognizes this opportunity to foil Martin yet again, and sets up a series of events leading Martin to discover Andy's dishonesty. Martin, devastated, is plunged into a deep despair, and breaks off his friendship with Andy. Andy later confronts him, and tries to convince him that everyone is flawed, and shouldn't be judged on such simple terms. Martin doesn't respond, but is swayed by Andy's impassioned words. Near the story's conclusion, Martin decides to fire Celia, but acknowledges his own role in purposely antagonizing her in their love-hate relationship, and they part on amicable terms.

Finally, he asks Andy to describe one last photo for him, one he has kept locked away for years. Andy does so, knowing nothing of its significance. It is a photo of the garden from Martin's childhood, taken moments after his mother described it on that fateful day. Andy's detailed description includes the iconic man raking leaves Martin's mother had told him about, that he had rejected for all these years. This revelation provides Martin with his proof, and a much-needed emotional release.