AllMovie

This extraordinary film can be viewed simply to enjoy the suspense-filled human drama it documents, and it requires no prior knowledge of Australian history or politics. It is a documentary which unveils the in-fighting, cajolery, rivalries, and deals that take place as the mayor of a Sydney suburb seeks a fourth term in office. That fourth term can only be achieved by his getting the vote of a majority of the 12 members of the city council. The mayor has to work very hard to get his majority because he is not a party regular. Indeed, he resigned from the Labor party and ran as an Independent. He is concerned that the four Labor members will hold that against him and fears he does not have enough votes coming from the other councilmen to win the election. Knowing that this documentary will not be viewed until long after the election, he eloquently confides his strategies to the camera, and we see similarly candid shots from all the council members as well.