The Candidate

The Candidate is a political drama about a young idealistic lawyer, Bill McKay, who is headhunted as the Democrats' Senate candidate in California. McKay wants an honest campaign, but gradually it dawns on him that he doesn't have much say. The campaign staff, led by campaign manager Lucas, have the final word, which means that they play down McKay's pet causes such as ecology and social rights. They know perfectly well that Bill McKay cannot beat the incumbent Republican senator, Jarmon, unless they turn the left-wing flame down a little in McKay. When Bill actually does beat Jarmon, the victory tastes bitter rather than sweet. He has lost his illusions about political life, and he has lost his appetite for the Senate seat.

The Candidate is a powerful critique of the American political system, in which the man at the centre is often reduced to a mere puppet who must adapt his person and his opinions to the precious opinion polls. Political films have been made in the USA before, and a film like "The Contender", for example, is far more successful.