A gripping thriller that mixes detective fiction and culture shock
Published in 1985, witness tells the story of John Book, a Philadelphia police detective played by Harrison Ford, tasked with protecting a young Amish boy, Samuel, who witnesses a brutal murder at a train station. What he discovers turns the investigation upside down: the crime involves corrupt members of the police. Forced to flee with Samuel and his mother Rachel, played by Kelly McGillis, Book takes refuge in the heart of an Amish community in Pennsylvania, a peaceful rural world, cut off from the progress and violence of modern society.
The originality of the film is based on this comparison between two completely opposite worlds. Urban America, plagued by corruption and police brutality, faces the simple, spiritual life of the Amish, resistant to violence. Peter Weir uses this contrast to create a permanent tension: the threat of the return of the killers constantly looms, leaving room for moments of sweetness and contemplation in the community. The pace of the film, deliberately slow, amplifies the tension and allows us to focus on human relationships.
Harrison Ford, far from his usual image of an action hero, offers a more interior performance here, playing a man caught between his duties as a police officer and his growing attachment to the family he protects. The quiet yet powerful romance between his character and Rachel adds an emotional layer to the story, while staying true to Amish traditions, where moderation is essential.
Two Oscars and public success
witness not only did it impress with its compelling story, but it also shined technically and artistically. The film won two Oscars during the 1986 ceremony: that of best original screenplay for Earl W. Wallace and William Kelley, and that of best editing for Thom Noble. Peter Weir was also nominated for Best Director and Harrison Ford received his first and only Oscar nomination for Best Actor, a recognition for his nuanced acting, a far cry from his more physical roles in Indiana Jones OR Star Wars.
The filming was, however, marked by several tensions, particularly between Peter Weir and Harrison Ford, the latter accustomed to faster and more vigorous productions. However, this perfectionism has paid off witness being today considered one of the best thrillers of the 80s.
When released in France, the film attracted more than two million spectators to theaters. At the worldwide box office, Witness has grossed more than $68 million.
Source: Cine Serie
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