THE PROPOSITION
US, 1997, 109 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe, William Hurt, Blythe Danner, Neil Patrick Harris, Robert Loggia, Josef Sommer.
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
The Proposition is a film about priesthood, surrogacy. It is set in 1935, in affluent Boston (the period of the Kennedys).
The screenplay might have seemed improbable at the time, but in view of crises in Catholic priesthood over the last thirty years, it does not seem so improbable. The focus is on a wealthy family, an adviser to President Roosevelt, played by William Hurt. He is unable to give his wife a child. They plan surrogacy with an eminent young lawyer, played by Neil Patrick Harris. When he becomes infatuated with the wife, he is killed. Audiences and most of the characters presume that the wealthy financier was behind the death. It is only at the end that it is revealed that he is not. (Though, if people listened to the dialogue, especially that spoken by Robert Loggia at the beginning, they will be aware of this plot twist.)
The film was also complex in focusing on the central character, an English priest, sent to work in Boston by his influential financier father (who turns out to be the older brother of William Hurt). By this stage, audiences will realise, of course, that he is the surrogate father of William Hurt's sons.
However, while the film has a great deal of melodrama, it ultimately focuses on human relationships, sin and repentance, faith, discovering God. There is a quotation that "sinners know God, while priests are in search of Him. This is very much the territory explored by such Catholic writers as Graham Greene.
The film focuses on a consensual relationship, issues of conscience and repentance, a change of heart on the part of the priest and his negotiation with the financier as to the future of the children as well as his own future in the priesthood.
The film is somewhat in the tradition of The Thorn Birds, but has a stronger underlying moral inquiry.
1. The impact of this kind of religious drama? Melodrama? On Catholic audiences - traditional? Liberal? Questioning? The impact on non-Catholic audiences who do not realise the implications of the issues?
2. The Boston setting, affluent mansions, business centres, the church (catering for the rich as well as the poor)? The re-creation of the period, 1935, the cars, décor and costumes? The romantic musical score?
3. The title, its focus on the surrogacy issue, the stances of Arthur, of Eleanor? Of Roger Martin? Of Cyril? Audience response to the surrogacy issue, the rights of the parents, the repercussions on the mother, on the young man who stands in as surrogate, his emotional involvement, sense of paternity? The repercussions for the priest as father of the surrogate children, assisting in the birth?
4. The focus on men's and women's issues, the tradition in the church, the dominance of men, moral decision-making by men, Eleanor and her image of God as female, feminist issues, the discussions about Shakespeare's sister as an image for equality between men and women, the attitude of Arthur, of Cyril, of Michael?
5. The opening and Michael telling the story, his voice-over - its serious and literary tone, a dash of the pretentious and the portentous?
6. Hannibal and Arthur's will, asking for explanations from Michael, his blessing? Listening to the story? Michael telling the story sixteen years after the events?
7. Arthur, his dominance, Michael not wanting to meet him, the audience not knowing why? The introduction after Mass, the eventual visit after putting off the appointment? The argument at the table about Nazi finances, the revelation that Samuel Barrett was his father? The repercussions on Arthur? The later revelation that Arthur was in love with Michael's mother, that she left with his brother, that his brother abandoned Cyril? The animosity within the family? The repercussions with Father Dryer and his kowtowing to the rich family, wanting Michael to keep the appointment, the discovery of the truth about the relationship, the discovery of the truth about the children?
8. Eleanor, successful writer, in love with Arthur, wanting children, the plan for the surrogacy? The meeting with Roger, his timidness, her being prepared to let him go, his shyness in the bathroom, the encounter? His return? His growing infatuation, phone calls, coming to the house, his death, her seeing him at the pauper's grave? Her collapse and the miscarriage? Her blaming Arthur, confiding in Michael? Their meeting together, sharing? Arthur and his concern, Cyril and her spying? Their not becoming lovers, the kiss, Cyril and her manipulation of the situation, coming to the confessional, giving Michael the information, his coming to the house, the encounter? Eleanor and her becoming pregnant, letting Father Dryer know, telling Michael, wanting to leave? The separation between the two? Her haemorrhaging, the doctor calling for Father Dryer, Michael going, assisting at the birth, Arthur's anguish in making the decision about the children? Her death? Her funeral, the irony of her being buried in the pauper's tomb, close to Michael, the visit of Arthur?
9. Michael and his service of the church, joining the church because it was a company his father could not buy, going to Boston? His dedication to his work, fighting against his father, serving the poor? The antagonism towards Arthur and revelation of the truth? The friendship with Eleanor, going riding with her? The meetings, the phone calls? His falling in love, the kiss? Cyril manipulating him? His going on the night, the sexual encounter, the paternity of the children? His final deal, overhearing Arthur questioning Cyril, learning the truth, giving him the children? His future as a priest - and his comments on what he had learnt?
10. Cyril, her poor background, being welcomed into the house, being made a lady, adviser, in love with Samuel, his jilting her and going with Arthur's fiancee? Helping bring up Arthur, her surrogate son, her guidance, being against the surrogacy, changing her mind? Advice and care for Eleanor? The revelation that she had killed Roger? Her protectiveness, the second young man, her going to the confessional, telling Michael about the situation, sitting vigil all night? The birth? Sitting at the coffin, Arthur asking her the truth, her admitting it?
11. Hannibal, the business associate, his explaining everything to Roger? His being in favour of the surrogacy? Arthur ringing him and the audience assuming that he was ordering Roger killed? The truth, Hannibal's visit to Michael after sixteen years?
12. Roger, the awkward young man, intelligent, applying for the job, reacting against the proposition, the rivalry, the money, his taking the job? His travelling to the house, wanting to leave, the nervousness, the flat tyre, the rain, his staying? His returning, falling in love, the child his? The scenes he caused, his death, buried in the pauper's grave? The police investigation, Michael fostering it, Father Dryer's antagonism, the case being closed?
13. A picture of the church in the US in the 1930s? Observance, church attendance, moral stances? Sexual morality, the decisions for surrogacy, the role of confession in reconciliation? The privileges of the rich within the church? The issues perceived from the perspective of the 1990s?
