The opening scene of the film “Witness” establishes many features of the film. These features include the camera shots, camera angles, light, sound (diegetic and non-diegetic), and dialogue, positioning of characters and setting. The opening scene is significant as it examines the concepts of how the peaceful Amish communities are marginalised and isolated from the modern world Weir conveys this by the opening of the quiet and peaceful wheat fields, with the juxtaposition of busy and dirty Philadelphia, the use of lighting is evident within the opening as the Amish way is bright and cheerful, and the Philadelphia shots are dark and depressing it is also conveyed with the wide shot and use of symbolism of the horse draw carriage and all the motor vehicle behind them leading the audience to believe that the Amish lifestyle is slowing down the modern day world, the sense of unity and affinity in the Amish culture has, Weir compares the Amish community in the barn building scene and the community in the train station and shows the vast differences between the two lifestyles the contrast between the two different worlds of the slow paced and peaceful life style of the Amish compared to the fast paced, materialistic, hectic lifestyle of the modern world, Weir portrays this by the use of music and how the type of music matches with the different society.
Rachel and Book are products of their society, but as Book becomes involved within the Amish lifestyle, his behaviour starts the change this allows Weir to dive deeper into different societies and their different values and ethics, Weir mainly focuses on the clash of cultures, and how different societies may seem superior but they all have their own problems, though Weir romanticises the Amish, he also shows what the community is life, if you are a women and how they are oppressed. Weir also explores the idea of being a head strong Amish woman within the society with Rachel, Weir conveys this in the barn building seen when Rachel serves Book first, in front of the elders.
Rachel and Book are products of their society, but as Book becomes involved within the Amish lifestyle, his behaviour starts the change this allows Weir to dive deeper into different societies and their different values and ethics, Weir mainly focuses on the clash of cultures, and how different societies may seem superior but they all have their own problems, though Weir romanticises the Amish, he also shows what the community is life, if you are a women and how they are oppressed. Weir also explores the idea of being a head strong Amish woman within the society with Rachel, Weir conveys this in the barn building seen when Rachel serves Book first, in front of the elders.