Proof

Martin is a blind photographer whose world is shaped by descriptions rather than sight. He distrusts the honesty of sighted people and uses photographs with Braille captions as 'proof' that reality matches description. He keeps Celia close to avoid pity, yet his defensiveness isolates him from others. A childhood memory of his mother describing a garden haunts him and informs his wary approach to relationships.

Andy is a thoughtful describer who forms a close, trusting bond with Martin through detailed descriptions of photos. He offers a humane, nuanced view of people, challenging Martin's tendency to see only flaws. Their friendship is tested when Celia seduces him and he lies to protect himself, revealing the complexities of trust and self-interest. He attempts to persuade Martin that people are fallible, not purely pitiful or deceitful.

Celia is Martin's housekeeper with a deep, obsessive crush. Her love quickly veers into control, as she rearranges Martin's furniture and manipulates him to keep him within her orbit. She surrounds him with photos of herself and refuses to let Martin escape the dynamics of pity and anger that define their relationship. Her manipulation becomes the central tension that drives the conflict.

Martin's mother shapes his sense of reality by describing the garden and insisting someone is raking leaves—descriptions he cannot hear as he grows angry at the perceived lie. This moment seeds his lifelong suspicion of ordinary explanations and fuels his need for 'proof'. Her memory haunts Martin, coloring how he interprets every interaction with others. Her influence anchors the theme of memory versus truth.

In flashbacks, Young Martin is a child who internalizes his mother's described garden as a potential deception. The scene reveals early signs of the distrust that defines his later adult life. His vulnerability in childhood explains why adult Martin clings to proof to guard against manipulation. The memory underscores the film's exploration of how early experiences shape perception.