Modern American corruption and violence. Philadelphia Police officer, John Book was obligated to hide from the three brutally and corrupt police officers as they were looking for a little Amish boy, Samuel Lapp. The boy witnessed the brutal killings and identified the killer as the three police officers. The ‘Witness’ strongly displayed many images of people and incorporated several techniques and images in various scenes to portray the contrast between two different worlds.
The scene depicts the peaceful and calm surroundings of the Amish. This is most apparent in the scene where a slow panning shot is used to portray the wheat as being of a soft silky appearance as it was blown in the wind, which highlights the world of harmony of the Amish. Contrasting of the two worlds is achieved by comparing the community in the Amish world with the individualism in the modern world. This is shown through camera techniques and costumes. In the opening scene, a long shot shows a group of Amish people walking together. The group, dressed in similar black costumes, supports the idea of a unified community.
This clearly shows how the Amish communities are peaceful and isolated from the modern world; and the contrast between the two different worlds of the slow paced and peaceful life style of the Amish and the fast paced and hectic lifestyle of the modern westernised society. The barn raising scene helps to show how comfortable the Amish are with their old-fashioned and community-minded ways. The techniques were used of the long shots of the whole Amish town coming together to build a barn for a newlywed couple, and it emphasised by their smiling faces and enthusiasm that they feel happy and privileged to work.
The Essay on Amish Society Vs. Modern Society
I decided that I would much rather live in the society we live in today rather than in an Amish society for many reasons. One of the areas that I will be discussing is the education system of the Amish Children. The second area that I will be discussing is the impacts and how important religion is to the Amish. Finally, I also felt that another interesting area of consideration would be the ...
Weir emphasise by adding the beautiful and clear sky, which made the day look more joyous and highlighting the Amish community in a more positive light than the city culture, where Weir has chosen to film cloudy and rainy days. Weir concentrates on the simple and peaceful approach of life by using visual techniques and demonstrates to the audience that in the beginning of the film that Amish world is unsuited with the modern World. The journey of Rachel and Samuel Lapp to Boston to visit Rachel’s sister becomes quite an experience. The varieties of camera shots give the audience Samuel’s perspective of Philadelphia station.
Harsh and loud noises from large crowd contrasts with the high level angle shot of people walking around independently in the train station, increase the individualism of the modern world. In contrast, Amish community is a collective group. Within the murder scene at Pennsylvania train station, Samuel, a young, innocent and naive Amish boy views a horrific murder. The close up shot of Samuel’s terrified eyes is strongly contrasted with the camera shots were moving back and forth from Samuel’s face and the horrific event happening in front of him, the shots kept increasing in speed demonstrating Samuel’s beating heart.
This is an unnatural scene to Samuel, one he would never have to experience within his Amish world. This emphasises the culture different views on violence in such a violent way. In the Amish society everyone is considered to be equal and taking of another people’s life will be shunned. However, this scene reinforces that violence has no place within the Amish culture, whereas the Western world would resort to whatever is necessary. Weir’s choices of urban settings contrasted the differences between two worlds.
The incompatible natures of the ‘English’ and Amish Worlds are portrayed through Weir’s extensive use of visual contrasts. Book’s arrival at the Lapp farm and his smashing of the dovecote symbolise the ‘crashing’, together of the two opposing cultures. Weir compares the Lapp’s draught-horse with Book’s car to demonstrate the Amish people’s total avoidance of the modern world. Weir uses a quick long shot of Eli’s draught-horse and cart against Book’s smashed car to set the differences in the worlds.
The Essay on Analysis Of Gallipoli By Peter Weir
Gallipoli truly demonstrated the view points of Australians and the effects the war had on them. A deceiving perception of the war was emphasized, forgetting the warnings and traumas which were so evident by the end of the movie. Innocence was lost before young boys even had a chance to really live their lives. Misleading propaganda and nationalism encouraged the war effort. Much could have been ...
Another visual image used in which Samuel discovers Book’s gun in a drawer. The close of shot of Samuel’s small and innocent hand holding the gun highlight the range of good effluence. This is clearly displayed to make distinctions between ideologies of the two worlds clearer. Weir strengthens his visual connections by building up ‘appropriate’ images throughout the film in order to increase the impact of the contrasted images. Witness portrays the use of imagery and film techniques to create two very different worlds in the film.
The Amish worlds are initially portrayed as very peaceful and simple through variety of techniques while the world of Philadelphia is dark and violent. When two worlds come together, the main characters Samuel and John Book, demonstrate the differences in each of the world’s lifestyles with the use of contrasting visual imagery and mise-en-scene. Weir clearly contrasts the Amish world of Samuel, Rachel and Eli with the urban ‘English’, world of John Book, and illustrates the audience reacts of what happens with these opposing environments interact.
