- Directed by Peter Weir
- February 7, 1985 (Fulton Opera House) / February 8, 1985
A Philadelphia police detective protects an Amish boy and his mother who witnessed a murder at a railroad station.
I grew up in the area near where Witness is set. In fact, some of the scenes in the film were shot not far from my home child at home. Needless to say it was quite a big deal, but I have never seen it until now. What struck me was how it visually took me back to my youth in the mid-80s. This is not a Hollywood version of Amish country. It is authentic down to minor details. One thing that jumped out at me was the off handed mention by one character of tourists just wondering onto property. I can say that does happen since so many tourists think Amish are an attraction and not an order.
Witness is a long movie, but it’s not an empty movie. It’s rather a bit on the slow side but that is to its benefit. It needs to take its time to build things. Peter Weir keeps establishing shots to the minimum. It’s enough to set the environment for somebody who is unfamiliar with Lancaster or even Amish country in general. Something is always going on. Character development or story development.
For example Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) does not talk much. Having talk a great deal would not be authentic. She only speaks the bare minimum but that does not mean she is uncommunicative. Looks and actions allow her to say what she needs without uttering a word. Weir masterful was able to get the characters to say so much without uttering a word.
This is a thriller known for its romantic core. The issue that caused Detective Captain John Book (Harrison Ford) to go into hiding pops in and out of the story just enough to remind you that it’s there. Not that it’s unimportant. The two stories are connected but it doesn’t forget about it.
Much of the movie is about Book learning to function in/navigate Amish life and those he is living amongst coming to accept him. He is out of his element and cannot proceed as he otherwise might. That would not work nor would following an Amish approach so as the movie goes along he must find a middle ground that will keep all safe and solve the issue.
Witness is a quiet movie. Quiet because it takes its time yet never feels slow. It’s also quiet because there is not a lot of background music. Peter Wier was an excellent director and I am left with the feeling he used that to you drive home the nature of Amish life. Another effort to push Amish life is that the lighting appears to be largely natural light. Amish generally don’t have electricity (some do break the rule in real life) and if the lighting had been too bright at night, or even during the day it would have broke the illusion.
This is not a movie devoid of action, but it’s not focused on action. Witness is a police corruption story. Action is not stylized but depicted as authentic. The closest to anything meant more for vibe over realism is the silo scene but that might have more to do with me than portrayal. The major action scene at the end is very thrilling largely because it is surprising change of pace from the bulk.
Character growth helps this to resonate to this day. Book may not be the best guy but he’s also not the worst human being. By the end of the movie he’s a little bit better of a person. Given the hint in the opening from his sister he’s a little closed off to love and just generally letting other people in. By the end of the film, it is his romance with Rachel Lapp you can see that he’s probably mature to the point of being willing to consider it.
Rachel for her part is a widow and there looks to be an effort from her to hide from the world. She keeps herself isolated and her head down so no other tragedies befall her. She has a perfectly viable suitor pursuing her but chooses an outsider to first begin to open up to again. McGillis got the mannerisms and even the voice right. She did not put on the clothing and that was it. In fact, the whole Amish cast was top-tier.
Rachel is drawn to book and she too him. In one scene Rachel catches Book looking at her as she steps out of the water and turns ever so briefly towards him in some of the most tasteful nudity I have seen in a film. There is another scene where she comes towards Book and sheds her bonnet to symbolically become more like his world before the two embrace and kiss passionately.
Though Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas) seeing a man killed is what starts the whole story, he is a rather minor character. He is almost forgotten about as the story shifts focus to Rachel and John as he adjusts to life hiding amongst the Amish. When on screen Haas communicated fear and warmth and was authentic in a way many child actors are not. Considering he is the reason, his lack of presence is surprising but not noticeable until you think on it. Haas creates a truly innocent child almost untouched by what he has seen.
The villains of this movie are Chief Paul Schaeffer (Josef Sommer) and his subordinates who pursue Book but have difficulty finding him for a while because, well, the Amish don’t leave much of a paper trail. These are not snarling, mustache twirling baddies. They are just crooked cops. They are not grandiose villains, or anything along that line making them an antidote to the numerous cliché threats of the era.
Nor is their evil obvious. Not only are they upstanding members of the community, but the actors performing them keep them subdued. If you cut out the scenes where they do something bad, you would not suspect them of being villains. A bit of realism that might be lost under lesser directors.
The climax was probably one of the more intelligent and unexpected solutions to a fight scene shoot out. Guns are not fired until all threats are dead. A bell is rung calling witnesses. Schaeffer is surrounded by witnesses and cannot kill his way out of this. He is broken psychologically in that moment. One would expected a shotgun blast that ended him so severely there was no coming back considering what dominated movies when this was released.
Weir subverts expectations by not having the two leads get a happily ever after. It is almost a given that the two would be indicated to be heading off to build a life together. They both are mature enough to realize they need to move on. The personal and social divides between the two were significant. Yet you’re not disappointed or upset that your expectations got subverted. Another reason this movie is excellent. When it goes against the grain it’s never upsetting.
This movie just hooks you right away. It’s beautiful to watch and a gripping story. The characters are believable and watchable. Everyone and everything serves a bit of a purpose. From growing Book to growing Rachel to moving the story along. Nothing is ever sensationalized.
Witness is an excellent movie. It’s a great great thriller and a great love story. Ford and McGillis are magic together and though it’s not frenetic or action packed it keeps you watching from start to finish.
