Witness (1985)

Film title: Witness
Director: Peter Weir

Plot: A young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder; policeman John Book goes into hiding in Amish country to protect him until the trial.

Reviews: 
"beautifully written, the screenplay is flawless, the editing is flawless" - Wayne Penner (2004) 





 

 The low angle shot of the statue conveys how overpowering and new this landmark may seem to the young Amish boy. This is as he comes from a tradition where his style of living is a lot more basic, therefore when entering a modern city most unseen entities seem fascinating and strange to him. Furthermore, the tall, majestic figure with wings portrayed as a statue could suggest that it is the boy's guardian angel, protecting him from the world.

  The camera angle then changes into a high angle/ over the shoulder shot from the statue. This makes the child seem insignificant, conveying the idea that he is a small boy in a large and dangerous world. Additionally, the over the shoulder shot further promotes the idea that the statue is the boy's guardian angel, this is as it seems the statue is looking over him.  

As Samuel goes to the toilet he becomes further and further out of site, showing a vanishing point within in the shot. This is very effective as it connotes the idea that Samuel is venturing into another world, or a different more hell-like side to the fascinating city he's been brought in to, it suggests that he won't be able to return to normality after entering. Additionally, it could further represent that he is crossing over to a dark place where his guardian angel can't even protect him. Secondly, although rather a large location Peter Weir portrays the idea of seclusion within this shot. This is as there are not many people around and therefore it's the perfect opportunity to commit a crime as no one is likely to witness it or stop it, furthermore, connoting what's about to  happen. 

The combination of quick cutting and various close-ups adds to the action and suspense of the scene. This is as close-ups only reveal parts of the action, therefore building tension and leading the audience to wonder what will happen next. Additionally, quick cuts between each close-up make the overall action more frantic and therefore keep us up to pace with the murder. 

Weir establishes generic conventions of weapon by introducing a flick knife as the murder weapon. This is as the switchblade is commonly used within the thriller genre, possibly due to it's concealment and quickness to draw the knife. For example, in spy thriller "Eye Of The Needle" German spy, Faber, consistently uses a flick knife to quickly kill others.  Weir may have used this weapon as it's speed does well in matching the pace of the action within the scene and furthermore increasing suspense.

This extreme close-up of Samuel's eye emphasizes the fact that he is watching the murder take place, captivated by the horrors he's seeing. This is because he comes from an Amish background and is used to peaceful ways of life, therefore the acts taking place stun him. The shot is effective in conveying this and furthermore engaging the audience with his feelings. 

 The next close-up is focused on the action whilst there are unfocused segments of the toilet doorway. This puts the audience in the boy's shoes realistically, as if they were genuinely witnessing the murder. The shot is therefore effective as it engages the audience and engrosses them within the action of the scene. Additionally, the out-focused door in front of the action could further symbolize how Samuel is in his own world divided from the rest of a corrupt society, whereas the action is slowly becoming a reality for him. Furthermore, Peter Weir establishes generic conventions of location within this scene as the toilets are a claustrophobic and dirty environment. The filthiness connotes the idea of criminality and corruption, reflecting the personas of the murderers' and the act of killing. Whereas the enclosed location connotes the idea of no escape/entrapment.

This close-up highlights Samuel's desperate struggle to try and bolt up the toilet door, the frantic action builds up suspense as the audience are left to wonder whether Samuel will manage to lock it in time, therefore keeping them on the edge of their seats. Furthermore, the shot could connote the idea of a nightmare in the way that Samuel is trying to shut the cruel world out but it is inevitably prising it's way. This shows how Samuel's peaceful way of living is finally being overtaken by reality and sooner or later he won't be able to shut it out.

The tracking shot of McFee's feet as goes from door to door of the toilet cubicles is very effective in building tension. This is as the audience know that he is getting closer and closer to the cubicle Samuel has locked himself into, therefore keeping them on edge. Furthermore, the low angle/close-up of McFee's feet and the toilet cubicles again highlight how Weir has used generic conventions of location in order to establish the thriller genre i.e. the dirty toilets/ the claustrophobic entrapment via McFee and the cubicles themselves.

This particular shot poses quite a strong intertextual link to the Indiana Jones movies, more specifically "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". This is as, much like in Indiana Jones, Samuel grabs his hat at the last minute of danger. Therefore, this intertextuality may have been used to connote the idea of escaping deadly fate in the nick of time. 



Ratings:

The demographic that rate "Witness" the highest are 'Females Aged 45+'. The reason why this group may have rated the film most favorably could be because of the main character John Book, played by Harrison Ford. This as Harrison Ford played many roles as a romantic hero within eras such as the 80's and 90's, and seeing as in the 80's most 45+ year old women would have been in their late teens/early twenties it is easy to see how that particular age group may have idolized/adored him.