Witness Old Amish Society - 1474 Words

#65279; Witness In the 1985 film witness director peter weir explores the sharp cultural conflicts between the old Amish society of western Pennsylvania and the modern American world of crime and violence. The main character, Philadelphia police detective John Book (played by Harrison Ford), is forced into hiding by a group of corrupt fellow officers looking for a little Amish boy (played by Lukas Haas). The boy witnesses a brutal killing and identifies the policeman who did it from a photograph on the wall at headquarters. John Book and his witness hide in the house of the boys#8217;s mother Rachel (played by Kelly McGillis) on a farm in the Amish country. The detective and the Amish widow†¦show more content†¦Book#8217;s world is the opposite of innocent, but we soon learn that he is incorruptible, hardworking and clean in his morals. His handgun becomes a major symbol of violence and a force that he brings from the big city to the quiet Amish world. But he adapts to the new way of life and learns other ways of dealing with enemies, an example of character evolution. In the last sequence of the movie Book actually kills his attackers by using the mechanisms of the grain silo, rather then shooting them with a .38 pistol. Many other symbols of the interaction between old and new, such as peaceful and violent, corrupt and innocent are the be found in this film. Book#8217;s carpentry birdhouse represents his determination to earn respect and love from Rachel and her family, which I though was great film communication. There was many other ways to convey this message but the way this was used was very profound. The way a hammer replaces his pistol at his side, he proves his manly abilities to everyone#8217;s satisfaction. The social relations between Book and the Amish are symbolized by his change of clothing. Book adopts the plain Amish dress oh his sanctuary, and the emotional weight of being her potential lover and husband as well. But the cl othes fit him very poorly, making him look something like a scarecrow and amusing even put back on the grey suit and tie of the Philadelphia police detective.Show MoreRelatedEssay about Peter Weirs Witness1454 Words   |  6 PagesPeter Weirs Witness In the 1985 film witness director Peter Weir explores the sharp cultural conflicts between the old Amish society of western Pennsylvania and the modern American world of crime and violence. The main character, Philadelphia police detective John Book (played by Harrison Ford), is forced into hiding by a group of corrupt fellow officers looking for a little Amish boy (played by Lukas Haas). The boy witnesses a brutal killing and identifies the policeman who did it from a photographRead MoreWhitness Essay1284 Words   |  6 PagesIn the film Witness starring Harrison Ford, producer Peter Weir has created two different worlds with different value systems. 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