Proof (2005)

Proof (2005) is a deeply moving drama directed by John Madden, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn. The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, a young woman who sacrificed her promising future to care for her ailing father, Robert, a once-gifted mathematician who succumbed to mental illness. Following Robert's death, portrayed by the legendary Anthony Hopkins, Catherine's isolated life is disrupted by the arrival of Hal, a young mathematician played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who admired Robert deeply, and Claire, Catherine's successful sister portrayed by Hope Davis, who worries that Catherine might inherit their father's mental struggles. The story revolves around 103 notebooks filled with Robert's writings, one of which, penned during a brief moment of clarity, holds the potential to revolutionize the mathematical world. This revelation also poses a threat to Catherine's fragile mental state. The screenplay, co-written by David Auburn and Rebecca Miller, adapts the play for the screen, setting the narrative in and around Chicago. The film is enhanced by Stephen Warbeck's captivating score and exceptional performances, particularly from Paltrow and Gyllenhaal.