Summary Of The Film 'Witness' By Peter Weir

"Witness" is a thriller, which was directed by Peter Weir and released in 1985. The film centres around the Amish community who live in Pennsylvania, and a young Amish boy, Samuel, and his widowed mother, Rachel, who are caught up in the clash between two very different worlds. One world is the modern, American, consumerist world, focused on money, property and individual success, and the other is the contrasting world of the Amish which is focused on serving their community. This clash between the two worlds is represented through many different ideas, images and techniques. Some of the main themes are the clash between pacifist attitudes and violence; the opposing attitudes of the ideals of individualism and community spirit; and of innocence versus corruption.

The Amish world is introduced at the very start of the film where the opening visual fades in to reveal a long shot showing the landscape. There is no use of artificial lighting but merely the natural sunlight of an early morning. This suggests the plain, simplistic traditions of the Amish community. The mystical music complements the scene and the words "Pennsylvania 1984" are surprising as the viewer might expect a much earlier date. The idea of two worlds is introduced by this and is also symbolized by the division of the scene into top half of the
When Book confronts them, Eli says "but it's not our way" and Book replies, "but it's my way". Weir uses a tracking shot as Book gets out of the carriage and approaches the gang which places the viewer behind him and gives the Amish perspective of the violence to come. Then Weir cuts to the front to give a close up of Book's angry face. A low angle shot is used on Book to show him dominating the hoodlum and breaking his nose. Throughout the film red blood is symbolic of the brutality of Book's