Restoring Proof

About the film

Martin (Hugo Weaving), a visually impaired man, lives an emotionally isolated life. Holding a deep-seated mistrust for the people around him, he takes photographs of his surroundings as a safeguard against being deceived. An object of obsessive but unrequited desire for his housekeeper (Genevieve Picot), Martin embarks on a cautious friendship with a young restaurant worker (Russell Crowe). In doing so, he sets in motion a love triangle in which trust can be built and shattered.

Proof was the launchpad for the international careers of actors Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe and director Jocelyn Moorhouse. It swept the 1991 AFI Awards, winning six awards including Best Film, Director, Actor (Weaving), Supporting Actor (Crowe) and Screenplay, and also received a special mention at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.

Restoration notes

In May 2016 the NFSA asked the public to help us fund the restoration of Proof. Over the course of 45 days, we were able to raise $27,000, thanks to the generosity of 266 film lovers from across Australia and around the world.

Whether they gave two or two thousand dollars, each one of their donations was crucial to help us reach our goal. Their contribution is not only financial; their support is a vote of confidence in the work of the NFSA, and proof that Australians care about the preservation of their film history.

This page is an acknowledgment to those who pledged their support to make this restoration possible. Some of our supporters have asked to remain anonymous, while others chose to provide a pseudonym. This is the full list:

• Adam Kent
• Alan Crabbe
• Alice Bedlington
• Amanda M
• Ambra Sancin
• Andrea Taylor
• Andrea Victoria Paradiso
• Andrew Bernadette Peirce
• Andrew Bettridge
• Andrew Blok
• Andrew Carfrae
• Andrew Feitz
• Andrew Jarrett
• Ann Ramsey
• Anne Hutton
• Anne Paxton and Linda Nebesky
• Anneliese Clare
• Annie Hauxwell
• Belinda Hunt
• Bernadette Hince
• Beth Taylor
• Bob Harding
• Body Intelligence
• Brian Lindsay
• Bronwyn McNeil
• Bruce Edwards
• Buster Fox
• Cameron Rees
• Cara Sputore
• Carol Monahan
• Carole White
• Caroline Macke
• Catherine Gallagher
• Cathy Speed
• Celestine Doyle
• Christopher
• Christopher John Durrant
• Clara van den Bosch
• Clare Langsford
• Dan Barton
• Daniel Mudie Cunningham
• Dave McLachlan
• David Boughey
• David Bromwich (Bromo)
• David Crowe
• David Donaldson
• David Pech
• David Waghorn
• Dean Lombard
• Denise Faithfull
• Denise OBrien
• Dian Benson
• Diana Mahon
• Dom Egan
• Dominic Case
• Eeva Risku
• Elisa
• Elizabeth Beach
• Elizabeth Runko
• Emma Jensen
• Evan Mynard
• Felix Pomeranz
• Fiona Moore
• Gabrielle Callea
• Gabrielle Trainor
• Gail Kristin Upp
• Gary Gallagher
• George Dunford
• Georgia Cummings
• Geraldine Quinnell
• Gin Masters
• Giselle
• Gordon MacPhail
• Greig Johnston
• Gus Kingston
• Hattie Archibald
• Helen Weir
• Ian Failes
• Ian Rochford
• Isobel Rogerson
• Jac Mckenzie
• Jacinta Cashen
• Jade Rae
• James Hartcher
• Jamie Horsfield
• Jaye
• Jeffrey Byrne
• Jennifer Binns
• Jennifer Blomeley
• Jennifer O’Neill
• Jennifer Prosser
• Jenny Davis
• Jeny Beale
• Jerry Diamantopoulos
• Jesper Peterson
• Jess Bolton
• Jessica Finlay
• Jessica West
• Joanne Mitchell
• Jocelyn Moorhouse
• Joe Looker
• Johanna Botman
• Johanna McKenzie
• John Solvyns
• Johny Bineham
• Josephine Kent
• Judith Stansfield
• Judith Stutz
• Julia Ermert
• K Moylan
• Karen Bayly
• Karen Pearlman
• Karina S
• Kate Leonard
• Kate Ollier
• Katherine
• Katherine Griffiths
• Kathleen Yorston
• Katie Ellis
• Katie Scott
• Kay Dyson
• Keith Charman
• Kerryn Herman
• Kristie Goote
• Kristina
• Krystyna Pindral
• Lani Fernance
• Laura De Palma
• Leah Lucas
• Leon Parker
• Lesley Speed
• Libby Stock
• Lily Mulholland
• Linda Gale
• Lisa Klovekorn
• Liz McGinnis
• Lloyd Donnelly
• Louise Cunane
• Louise Smith
• Luke Davies
• Margaret Pomeranz
• Margaret Reiby Lee
• Marguerite Castello
• Marie and Andrew Sinstead-Reid
• Marisa Martin
• Mark Maley
• Mark Pearson
• Mark Walker
• Mary Lou Jarvis
• Maryann Kennedy
• Maryann Plowright
• Matt Ferro
• Matt Johnston
• Matt McLeod
• Matt Merry
• Maureen Reedy
• Melinda Moyle
• Meredith Bramich
• Meredith Hinchliffe
• Michael Williams
• Michael Zehmeister
• Michele Jackson
• Miyuki Uranishi
• Moira A Smith
• Moira Bandt
• Nadia
• Nancye Burkevics
• Nasonie Charles
• Natalie Lewenhoff Jones
• Nicholas Kraak
• Nina Gilks
• Owen Holmwood
• Paul McEvoy
• Paul Ryan
• Peter Barber
• Peter Fregon
• Peter Green
• Philip Constable
• Rabbit46852
• Ray Edmondson
• Rebecca Elliott
• Rebecca Spindler
• Rebecca Williams
• Red Thread Studios
• Roma O’Callaghan
• Ronald Brown
• Rosario Marian Schesky
• Rose Capp
• Rosemary Walters
• Roslyn Russell
• Ross Garrett
• Ruth Melville
• S Finch
• Sally Rogers-Davidson
• Sarah Hatherley
• Shane Baker
• Shelley Lewis
• Siegfried Glina
• Stephen Frost
• Steve Colbert
• Steve Roberts
• Stu Knibbs
• Stuart Reeh
• Sue Ann Barber
• Sue Terry
• Tamara Turner
• Tania Chambers
• Taylor Litton-Strain
• Tim Wood
• Toni Cody
• Tony Stock
• Tracey Mair
• Trish Roberts
• Valeria
• Vic Cross
• Vicki Bourne
• Wesley Walker
• William Head

In this video, NFSA Ambassador Margaret Pomeranz thanks our 266 people supporters, particularly the 'Film Conservators’ who donated $1,000 or more.

Photo Gallery

Before and after