A View of The Unique Aspects that Make Witness an Outstanding Movie

A View of The Unique Aspects that Make Witness an Outstanding Movie

Films that are able to express distinctive features and ideas are always worthy of being memorable. Memorable films allow us, the viewers, to absorb the contents and ideas portrayed in them. Film critics of Films Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, I have been given this opportunity to present my suggestion on a film that is undoubtedly commendable as a memorable piece. The film Witness, directed by Peter Weir, effectively portrays distinctive ideas involving the cultural clash between the Amish and modern society, the romance of two protagonists, and the theme of good versus evil associated with corruption within the police force. Together, these three central distinct features of the film make effective use of cinematic elements that allow the film to justify its position as worthy of the title of a memorable film.

Cultural Clash

Witness is a thriller that centers on the Amish community living in Pennsylvania and a young Amish boy, Samuel, and his widowed mother, Rachel. The two are caught up in a clash between two worlds: modern American society, where greed, violence, and corruption occur, as opposed to the juxtaposing world of the Amish, which focuses on teamwork, peace, and serving the community to create a better place. This cultural clash is the most distinct feature of the film, originally introduced when Samuel witnesses a horrific murder in a railway bathroom. Being a small, vulnerable child, witnessing something as unimaginable as this is enough to corrupt his innocence. The viewers immediately sense that this has a profound effect on the small child as the scene employs several techniques, including an extreme close-up of Samuel’s eye and the use of body language, such as his heavy breathing and facial expression showing horror as he secretly witnesses the brutal murder and tries to avoid being discovered by the killers (Weir, 1985).

The cultural clash is further illustrated by the fact that the Amish operate on a system that enables them to be known as pacifists, as opposed to the contrasting lives of city dwellers, where violence often resolves conflicts. This is evident during the Amish's trip into the city when they are confronted by irritating teenage kids. The eye-level shot of Daniel being harassed, accompanied by his straight facial expression, reinforces the Amish's pacifist beliefs in dealing with such situations. This contrasts sharply with John, who uses violence and power to handle situations. A high-angle shot viewing down upon the teenage boy enforces the power that Book has over him. The effect of John’s violent action and aggression towards the youngster further emphasizes the juxtaposing cultures between the Amish and modern society.

Romantic Tension

Another distinctive idea that contributes to making this a memorable film is the persistent romance that occurs between Rachel and John throughout the film. This is portrayed in the scene where John attempts to repair his car in the barn. The intimate relationship that develops within this scene originates through the music. The song “What a Wonderful World” allows John and Rachel to embrace and dance with one another. The song selection was effectively used along with the repetition of the lyrics “…be with you,” as it reflects upon the mood of the scene, releasing the obvious romance between the two (Weir, 1985). The barn, dimmed by the dull light within the lamp, illuminates the two lovers, reinforcing the romance between them. The affection is further portrayed by the effective use of an eye-level close-up shot of the two, which further extensively portrays the idea of romance among the viewers.

Good Versus Evil

What makes Witness such a successful film and worthy of being memorable is its ability to thoroughly engage the audience by using thrilling elements. The thriller aspect of the film is associated with the theme of corruption within the police force, symbolizing the evil in modern American cities and reinforcing the clash of cultures with the peaceful Amish. This creates the idea of good versus evil. Following the events of Samuel’s witnessing, John discovers information leading to the murder of the police officer and comes to realize that those he once thought were good are actually evil. While Samuel is at the police station attempting to identify the killer, he eventually comes across an unexpected photo of the “black tall man” he described to John. The close-up shot of the news article emphasizes Samuel’s discovery. This is further reinforced as his face expresses horror with his body gesture pointing towards the photo, as well as looking at John in an eerie way, while the changing mood and tone of the background music become duller and faster, further exemplifying the discovery of the murderer. This is followed by John’s close-up shot of his horrified facial expression, which immediately confirms the corrupted cops within the police department (Weir, 1985).

The three distinct ideas of the clash of cultures between the Amish and the modern American world, the intimate romance between John and Rachel, and the theme of good versus evil between John and the corrupt cops, together with the extensive use of techniques, allow the film to thoroughly express its distinct ideas. In my opinion, the film encompasses several issues and ideas that still occur within our everyday society. Surely, from the thorough analysis of the film Witness, you film critics will join and side with my thoughts about the film, recognizing Witness as a worthy film deserving the title of being memorable. Remember… “Please be careful amongst them Englishmen” (Weir, 1985).

References

• Weir, P. (Director). (1985). Witness [Film]. Paramount Pictures.