WITNESS

US, 1985,114 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Kelly Mc Gillis, Lucas Haas, Josef Sommer, Danny Glover, Viggo Mortensen.
Directed by Peter Weir

Witness is Peter Weir's first Hollywood film. It was a project that he took up at short notice, yet it nevertheless relates well to the main body of his work.

In essence, the film is a police thriller, with Harrison Ford excellent giving a complex performance as John Book, the Philadelphia policeman. But the film also focuses on the Amish community and, despite some criticisms, gives a very sympathetic performance of a community within 20th century America that harks back to traditions of earlier centuries. The interplay between the contemporary policeman and the community with its principles evokes a lot of dramatic tension. The photography by Australian John Seale is a major contributor to Weir's atmosphere. There is also an excellent score by Maurice Jarre (who scored Weir's The Year of Living Dangerously). Kelly Mc Gillis, from Reuben, Reuben, is attractive as the Amish widow. Alexander Gudonov has a role as an Amish farmer.

1. An enjoyable film? Its universal acclaim as a fine police thriller? As a portrait of the Amish community? The criticisms
of the Amish that they were portrayed, were not portrayed accurately?

2. The success of the film as a police thriller: the focus on the persons and personalities involved, the committing of the crime, the narcotics connections, violence and the police, police corruption and cover-up, the confrontation with John Book? Contemporary themes of American police and detection, corruption?

3. The Amish story: location photography in Lancaster County, the farms and the homes, the contrast with the towns? Comparisons with vehicles, machinery? Train travel? The life on the farms, celebrations, the raising of the barn? An authentic atmosphere? The contribution of Maurice Jarre's score?

4. The blending of the police thriller with the Amish story, the impact of the 20th. century crime world on the Amish? 'There are other ways' - the Amish principle for confronting evil and finding alternates to violent treatment?
The effect of the Amish on the police, their way of life, responsibility, community, relationships?

5. The portrait of the Amish: the opening sequences. the fields, the horse and carriage, the semi-trailer on the road? The Amish and their dress, language, manners? Attitudes towards technology? Isolation from the American community? Principles of non-violence? Their seeming quaint, the response of the tourists, the tourists photographing them? The hooligans and their taunting to violence? Their self-contained world, regarding the Americans as English? Their directness. sincerity, industry, community life? Their robust sense of humour? The film respecting them and not ridiculing them? Their role in American society?

6. John Book and his work, detection skills, the encounter with Samuel and the interrogation, taking Rachel and her son to his sister's house, his sister's observations on him as a person and Rachel repeating thein? The police station? Samuel identifying the photos? the discovery of the truth? His relationship with Paul and the discussion about the crime? Mc Fee ambushing him in the parking lot, shooting? His being shot, plan for Rachel and her son, advice to his sister? The driving, the silence about his whereabouts by Elaine and by Carter? His delivering Rachel and her son home, his illness and the crashing of the car, his being cared for, his delirium, being cared for by Rachel, the effect on each? His hiding, the phone calls? Wearing Rachel's husband's clothes? The tour of the community? The gun and Samuel fingering it? The day with the raising of the barn and his work as a carpenter? Going into town, the phone calls, the louts confronting the group and Book bashing them? The effect of the Amish on him? His discussing their principles? With Rachel’s father? Rachel and her care, the getting the car going, the music and the dance, seeming to lead further but then moving back to the dance? His seeing Rachel washing? The bond and the effect? The final confrontation, dangers, deaths? His decision to leave? A rounded portrait of a contemporary policeman?

7. Rachel and her son: the initial grieving, widow and son, the bond with Daniel, his courting and the expectations of marriage? Her taking Samuel on the train? The delight of the train ride? The hours at the railway station? Samuel wandering, the toilet, the seeing of the murder, his ability escape detection? The questions by the police? Going to Elaine's home and being sheltered? The encounters with Book? The Amish with their dress, manners, saying Grace in the city? Rachel's life, her home life, work? Samuel and his liking John Book? The gun? Book making him the toy? Samuel helping him in the confrontation? Rachel and her care for Book, attracted towards him, defying the elders, falling in love? Daniel courting her? The final decisions and Book leaving?

8. The portrait of the Amish community: the elders and their style, manner, decision-making, helping Book, the discussions? The non-violent principles and their being taunted? Lapp and the ringing of the bell, his being hit by the police? Daniel and his work as a farmer, courting Rachel? His being jealous of Book?

9. The background of police, drug deals, brutality, murders, the officials and their cover-up, the chase, the final confrontation, deaths? The violence of the chase through the farm, the death under the grain, the shooting?

10. The pace of Amish life and the confrontation of the 20th century and its comment on American violent society?

11. Themes of a serene and an ugly world, integrity and basic values?