CLASH OF CULTURES
Witness is set in the two very different worlds of the Amish community and the city, in the beginning the audience see the traditional, patriarchal community of the Amish this is then contrasted with the modern world. In the opening scene Peter Weir conveys through the use of mis-en-scene how behind the Amish community is compared to the modern day society, by using the horse drawn carriage as a symbol for how slow paced the Amish life style is, this is also portrayed through the use of non-diegetic sound when the shots are on the Amish lifestyle/community the music is slow and inviting, Peter Weir romanticizes the Amish the lifestyle, as when the shots move to Philadelphia the non-diegetic sound becomes more fast pace symbolizing the modern day worlds lifestyle. Another way Peter Weir conveys the clash of cultures is also through the use of costume, Rachel and Samuel stand apart from others in their clothes and demeanor, unlike within their community everyone here is anonymous. The Amish also stand out as being plan dressed, so they don’t show vanity.
“Do I look Amish?”
“You look plain”
Through the use of costuming the audience can pick up that the Amish sense of style conveys their sense of lifestyle. When Book stays at the Lapp farm and wears the Amish clothing, the clothes don’t fit Book, this is conveyed through the use of mis-en-scene, this also symbolizes that Book doesn't fit in with the Amish society so he doesn't fit in with their lifestyle.
Their attitudes towards individuals are different as well, the Amish society don’t provoke individuals, where Book and Carter do.
“I just don't like the idea of my son spending all this time with a man who carries a gun and goes around whacking people!”
This is a huge juxtaposition compared to the Amish way, when tourists are mocking the Amish,
“It’s not our way”
“It’s my way”
As Book first arrives at the Lapp farm he crashes into the bird house, this symbolizes the physical sense of a clash of cultures, at the beginning Book is creating havoc this is conveyed when the bird house comes crashing down, this symbolizes the ideology that the Amish community is falling down with an “English” being among the Amish, at the end of the film when Book fixes the bird house, this represents that Book’s time at the Lapp farm is over and that he is fixing the Amish Lifestyle.
“He’s going back to his own world, where he belongs. He knows it, and you know it, too”
“Do I look Amish?”
“You look plain”
Through the use of costuming the audience can pick up that the Amish sense of style conveys their sense of lifestyle. When Book stays at the Lapp farm and wears the Amish clothing, the clothes don’t fit Book, this is conveyed through the use of mis-en-scene, this also symbolizes that Book doesn't fit in with the Amish society so he doesn't fit in with their lifestyle.
Their attitudes towards individuals are different as well, the Amish society don’t provoke individuals, where Book and Carter do.
“I just don't like the idea of my son spending all this time with a man who carries a gun and goes around whacking people!”
This is a huge juxtaposition compared to the Amish way, when tourists are mocking the Amish,
“It’s not our way”
“It’s my way”
As Book first arrives at the Lapp farm he crashes into the bird house, this symbolizes the physical sense of a clash of cultures, at the beginning Book is creating havoc this is conveyed when the bird house comes crashing down, this symbolizes the ideology that the Amish community is falling down with an “English” being among the Amish, at the end of the film when Book fixes the bird house, this represents that Book’s time at the Lapp farm is over and that he is fixing the Amish Lifestyle.
“He’s going back to his own world, where he belongs. He knows it, and you know it, too”
CORRUPTION OF INNOCENCE
The Amish community is seen as an innocent community that knows nothing of the outside evils there are, Peter Weir uses this to his advantages as he romanticises the Amish community, portraying it as a better society and community compared to that of the modern day world. The Amish lifestyle is based on the rejection of the material values of the modern world that surrounds them. The corruption of innocence is distinctive in two areas the corruption of the police department and when Samuel witnesses a murder.
Children symbolise innocence, Samuel being Amish is even more innocent compared to children within the modern day society, Samuel growing up within the Amish community is naive to societies ways. Witnessing the murder, having to hide in the toilet, identifying murder suspects and become involved in life and death decisions are all ways in which Samuel has been corrupted. Samuel is forced to grow up quicker as he realises the evil part within human nature. Through the use of an extreme close up, into Samuels’s eyes, the audience can see the reaction the murder has on Samuel. The eyes are also the gateway to an individual’s soul, Samuels’s soul has been darkened, by witnessing the murder, which has resulted in his loss of innocence.
“I can see what they do. I have seen it.”
In the scene where Samuel touches Book’s gun, portrays the ideology that Samuel has a thirst for knowledge that is beyond his capability to understand, this can also been seen as confusing for Samuel, as “Bad men” have guns, that the men in the bathroom had a gun when checking the toilets and his "bad", but Book has a gun and in Samuels eyes isn’t a bad man.
“I would only kill the bad man”
“Only the bad man. I see. And you know these bad men by sight? You are able to look into their hearts and see this badness?”
The sense of Good and Evil, is also prominent within the scope of Samuels loss of innocence as he struggles with what is good and evil, and that Samuel would only kill a bad man, as he has “Seen it”. Samuel has seen the Good and Evil within society, that without good there is evil.
Children symbolise innocence, Samuel being Amish is even more innocent compared to children within the modern day society, Samuel growing up within the Amish community is naive to societies ways. Witnessing the murder, having to hide in the toilet, identifying murder suspects and become involved in life and death decisions are all ways in which Samuel has been corrupted. Samuel is forced to grow up quicker as he realises the evil part within human nature. Through the use of an extreme close up, into Samuels’s eyes, the audience can see the reaction the murder has on Samuel. The eyes are also the gateway to an individual’s soul, Samuels’s soul has been darkened, by witnessing the murder, which has resulted in his loss of innocence.
“I can see what they do. I have seen it.”
In the scene where Samuel touches Book’s gun, portrays the ideology that Samuel has a thirst for knowledge that is beyond his capability to understand, this can also been seen as confusing for Samuel, as “Bad men” have guns, that the men in the bathroom had a gun when checking the toilets and his "bad", but Book has a gun and in Samuels eyes isn’t a bad man.
“I would only kill the bad man”
“Only the bad man. I see. And you know these bad men by sight? You are able to look into their hearts and see this badness?”
The sense of Good and Evil, is also prominent within the scope of Samuels loss of innocence as he struggles with what is good and evil, and that Samuel would only kill a bad man, as he has “Seen it”. Samuel has seen the Good and Evil within society, that without good there is evil.