Facing a dilemma of justice, Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) gives the outlaw Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a proposition: Locate and kill his psychotic older brother Arthur (Danny Huston) in order to save his younger brother from hanging on Christmas day.

While The Proposition is Australian in any way possible, it is one of the most valuable contributions to the western genre since Eastwood’s Unforgiven. It is in one way unique, given both the Australian context, yet universal in the way it addresses the conflict of letters of the law versus justice and in doing the right thing. As such, it portraits the human psyche facing justice and revenge, showing us both sides of the coin and the consequences.

Enriching these motives, the outback and primitive rural settings helps isolating the psyche by pure contrast. Man is alone with himself and his choices.

Within the context of the story, the question of morality is centre. What makes an officer of the law propose such a proposition? Is it moral to do so? Will the actions in its wake be moral? Is justice moral? Does the goal justify the means by which it is achieved? Is morality part of justice at all?

Adding to this, everything is camouflaged by despair. Not just the proposition by Stanley, as he has no guarantee of Charlie and his actions, but also in the mise-en-scene of his home, where his wife (Emily Watson) does what she can to maintain the Victorian lifestyle, by serving English breakfast and tea using china, and by importing a Christmas tree. Again, thru this, the film asks, if despair causes man to create illusions, and in length of this, is law and order an illusion?

Elevating the story, actors Guy Pearce, Danny Huston and Ray Winstone gives perhaps their best performances to date. They become not only their characters, they become signifiers of the films motifs.

The Proposition is an incredible strong and brutal contribution to the western genre and of the best films of the year. Not to be missed.

Henrik Sylow