Witness: Special Collector's Edition

Australian director Peter Weir made this 1985 thriller so memorable by downplaying the narrative's overtly melodramatic elements and concentrating on the culture clash inherent in its fish-out-of-water subplot. Investigating a murder involving police corruption, Philadelphia detective John Book (Harrison Ford) takes refuge with an Amish family to protect the single eyewitness to the crime: Samuel (Lukas Haas), one of the community's children. Book can't wholly understand the reluctance of the boy's widowed mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis) to help bring the killer to justice, but he eventually realizes that their lives are in danger. Witness devotes much of its running time to playing off the conflict between contemporary urban society (represented by Book, the puzzled outsider) and the isolated, rural, tradition-bound Amish. Different upbringings aside, John and Rachel ultimately find enough common ground to spark romance, which makes his job of protecting her and Samuel even more important. Weir's handling of the extended sequences among the Amish is pitch-perfect (he doesn't rely on clunky dialogue or contrived situations to carry this part of the story), while the deepening feelings between the socially awkward cop and the proud Amish widow are subtly conveyed through telling glances and body language. The picture reverts to type when the bad guys find Book, but Weir handles the suspenseful action climax in a non-stereotypical fashion. Masterfully acted, beautifully photographed, and skillfully written (the screenplay won an Oscar), Witness is an excellent film that transcends its genre. Boasting a fine widescreen transfer, this “special collector's edition” includes a five-part new “making-of” documentary, featuring Weir, Ford, McGillis, Haas, and others. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)