Oh, yes I do. Your son's a material witness to a homicide.
You don't understand. We want nothing to do with your laws.
Doesn't surprise me. A lot of people I meet are like that.
Witness can be considered Weir's first American film (where he has continued to work since), though he made use of fellow Aussie John Seals as his cinematographer (rather than Russell Boyd, another Australian, who did DP duty on all the other films of Weir that we've watched). In the way that Weir showed the natural beauty of Australia in Gallipoli, he shows us an America that looks like something out of a Currier and Ives calender, with rippling fields of wheat and rustic farms. He also shows us an America that looks like something out of Cops. It is, we can all probably agree, the most accessible film of his we've watched yet. It was also a huge success, making over $68 million on a $12 million budget. And it helped make Harrison Ford an actor to be considered for serious dramatic roles, and not just Han Solo or Indiana Jones. It also put Kelly McGillis in the minds of filmgoers, leading to her role in the blockbuster Tom Cruise flick Top Gun. Witness is an iconic 80's Hollywood film, one you can catch on television often—unlike Picnic at Hanging Rock or Last Wave.
1. So what do you think? Like? Dislike? And what moment or image stayed with you? Why?
2. We've seen this before in Weir: a stranger themself in a strange land. Often we are the stranger, the viewer that is, seeing something strange and alien to us. Sailors on a warship; aborigines; a girl's school; the Amish. Clark asks this question: what's Weir saying about the Amish? How are we supposed to see them and their life so far in the movie?
3. The movie begins with Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas), maybe one of the most appealing children in a major motion picture ever, seeing a new world; and we get to see our world too through his innocent eyes. We're probably thinking the movie's going to be about him. But Weir does something...tricky? surprising? He turns this into a movie about city cop John Book seeing a new world; and we get to see this world through his eyes. And pretty clearly the conflict is being set-up: should Book stay in Amish country? Should he trade in his "gun of the hand" for a plain Amish suit with no buttons? Should he leave his life "whacking" people? What do you think? If at this point in the film, you could pull a Woody Allen ala Purple Rose of Cairo and enter into the world on the screen, what would you tell John Book to do—and why?
We'll finish the movie tomorrow. And sometime next week we'll start Year of Living Dangerously again.
Here's a clip from today's portion of the movie. It's a truly funny moment.
1. This film is, so far, very enjoyable. It is my favorite of the ones we have watched (as long as they don’t kill off the little boy. If that happens, I condemn this movie). It has funny moments, cute moments and is full of action. I love the way it has transitioned from Samuel and his mother being the fish-out-of-water to John Book, thrown into another world. When Book, too weak to drive, crashes into the birdhouse, he also switches roles with Samuels mother from taking care of her to having her take care of him. The characters, though from different worlds are very relatable. Unlike Picnic at Hanging Rock or Gallipoli, Samuel, his mother, and Book have straight foreword emotions. They don’t seem as confused about what’s going on with their outside world (besides cow teats) or within themselves.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the audience is supposed to be surprised and amused by the quirks Book finds so outrageous. I think that Peter Weir is pointing out that the Amish lead very different lives than the average American. Much like in The Last Wave, two worlds exist within each other, rarely crossing paths. The Amish, though surrounded by technology, cars and buttons (!) live completely without them. Peter Weir might be commenting of the materialism of society by contrasting the modern and the Amish lifestyles or noticing Amish country is a perfect a place to hide. The film also showcases that the Amish people, though they don’t have telephones to communicate are very close knit. For example, in the funeral scene at the beginning of the movie is packed with people. The room is overflowing. Also, the Amish lifestyle is a dramatic contrast to John Book’s lifestyle. The level of his discomfort makes the story more exciting.
3. I think that so far, John is making good decisions for himself and for the Lapps. I think he should keep his gun nearby but try to embrace his new chores and wakeup calls. Not that it was his choice but he has done nothing but inconvenience the Lapp’s and he needs to try to be an easygoing house guest. I think he needs to work on fitting in.
I really like this movie, probably because, as you said, it is the most accessable of all the movies we've watched. One moment that stayed with me was the scene at the diner when Rachel is telling John all of the things his sister said to him. It's a comical moment and it gives a bit of character description for both John and his sister, but it also calls attention to one of the ways Amish society is different from mainstream society: the Amish don't gossip about each other. The fact that Rachel tells John everything his sister says behind his back without any intention of malice makes her seem naive to a mainstream audience, but the rest of the movie proves that she is anything but naive. I think Weir uses the Amish to make a commentary on mainstream society. We may find it odd that the Amish characters say everything that's on their minds or say prayers for hot dogs, but Weir shows us that their way of life actually makes a lot more sense than ours. We are supposed to see them as reasonable, hardworking people who are perfectly capable of surviving our crazy version of civilization, but would really rather not because their version is less complicated. I don't think John Book should stay with the Amish because he doesn't fit in and wouldn't be happy there. I do, however, think he should stay friends with Rachel and her family because they are teaching him important life lessons. Maybe he should find a different job, or maybe he can reconcile what he has learned from the Amish with his career "whacking" people. I would tell him to listen to what they have to say and learn from their way of life.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Rachel was telling everything his sister said behind his back was naive. I think she was trying to sort of get back at him for making her and her son stay at his sister's, and maybe even flirting a little.
DeleteMaybe it has something to do with Harrison Ford's familiar face, but this is one of my favorite movies that we have watched. There is a reoccurring theme of loss of innocence in this movie. Many of the characters, especially the little Amish boy, are being introduced and realizing things they hadn't know before the start of the movie. Samuel is witness to a murder, and John Book experiences a society and a family so unlike his own. The scene where the horse drawn wagon is slowing moving along a road with a trail of trucks and cars behind him stuck with me the most. The wagon obviously did not fit in with it's surrounding, an ongoing theme throughout the movie.
ReplyDeleteTo me, when I hear Amish, I think of people that live a completely different lifestyle than I do. There lifestyle is different than mine, but they came off like normal, caring people. There was the party going on in the beginning and their family dinners. It's turns out their life is not much different than mine. They are different though; the clothes they wear, the ways they travel, their little access to a phone.
I have a feeling we are going to have another Peter Weir ending; left not feeling like the movie is over. I believe he is going to find a way to combine the two worlds. I don't know how, but he seems to enjoy his life as a cop as well as the company of the Amish.
I like this movie so far. I feel like I have started every post that way. The fact of the matter is, Peter Weir has done some great films! I definitely think that the amish aspect was a nice addition. The fact that the police officers cannot find John and the Lapps is enjoyable. I mean, I guess it makes sense because it shouldn't be too easy, but it is still a smart move. I think that Samuel is adorable. Side note: Lukas Haas seems very different from this little boy he once was. Fun fact: he was rumored to be Leonardo Di Caprio's lover. I bet you enjoyed that tid-bit of information (probably not, but now you know! You have already read it and cannot go back! So much power). The scene where they cut the man's throat is slightly funny. The scene itself is nice, but when they slashed his throat I was slightly amused. It just fake. Probably because it was fake. Imagine that. Samuel was a very smart child in that scene. I applaud him for that. Also, I loved when he identified the murderer and his expression was completely different. His eyes were so big and the camera kept switching from face to face. As for John being with the Amish, I think he has changed how he views them. In the beginning of the movie I sensed that he was judgmental and almost mocked the Amish. When Rachel says something like, "People stare. They think we are quaint.", John responds with, "I wonder why". It's obviously sarcasm in this case. I think that if he keeps progressing the way he is now, maybe the movie will take a turn and he'll end up staying. Or maybe the movie with finish with him dying or him driving away and the last shot is him drinking coffee. Who knows.
ReplyDelete1. So far, I really like this film. It's very different. In the other films, I would laugh here and there, but this film is truly hilarious. It's great to watch a serious movie that uses humor to lighten the mood. I like how Samuel is so alienated in the city world, and John is very surprised at their behaviors, but he's put in their position. It seems humble him a bit, gives him a chance to not be the top dog. My favorite shot is the image of the wheat in the wind. I love how it looks like water. It reminded me a lot of the beginning of Master and Commander, when the camera runs along the water, then up to the ship. Although that shot is moving, they are very similar, showing the waves of wheat/water.
ReplyDelete2. I think Weir is using the Amish to show how different city culture is than many others. He shows the Amish culture, throwing this very city-like person into a situation he isn't able to comprehend, yet they are so nice to him. Yes, they make him work, but they feed and clothe him, not to mention, save his life. He gets a chance to see a different society and it opens up his mind to other possibilities. I think Weir is trying to show us that city culture isn't necessarily the best. Yes, we have internet and cars, but he also have a lot of murderers and dead people. The Amish live with what they have, and don't complain. They also have a fundamental set of values that they always follow, unlike others, who think killing is bad, then turn around and kill someone.
3. I would probably tell John to stay on the elders's good sides, do his fair share of work, and be polite. I think he needs to keep his gun, but he shouldn't try to take it out unless it's absolutely necessary. He should live like the Amish, but not sever all ties to city life. He needs to stay off the grid, but he also needs to catch the killer. After that, he needs to thank Rachel properly. He needs to respect their laws and values, but he also needs to keep in touch with the police and catch the killer before he is found and/or killed.
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ReplyDeleteSo far I like this movie a lot. Aside from maybe Gallipoli, this may be the most easily relatable and accessible film we have watched. I like how we're able to relate easily with John Book, he's an ordinary cop so far. He doesn't have a magical ability to see the future in his dreams or a dream to wage war for his country. He isn't a mysterious schoolgirl or a British war captain. He's just an ordinary person like us, and I think that makes it easier to invest yourself in his story than in, say, Richard Chamberlain's in The Last Wave. The scene that was memorable to me so far was one of the very first ones, where Samuel and his mom are heading to the train station. The shot is of their carriage, which then pans a bit to show a comparatively huge truck and several cars. This is a shot we're not expecting, and one that shows a comparison of the Amish and ordinary societies.
ReplyDeleteI think that primarily we are supposed to see the Amish as fairly primitive and as an oddity among the Western culture, but as the film progresses we start to see them as in a way more advanced, since they have a big focus on peace and living together without harming one another. This is exemplified by the lecture that Samuel gets from his grandfather about guns and how they're meant to hurt people and should not be used.
I personally think that I wouldn't have John stay. He might want to find a more peaceful job and still maintain contact with the Amish, but I think he can follow a peaceful way of life without being so completely disconnected as the Amish.
I like this movie so far, because its funny but also about a murder. It is defiantly one of my favorites too. The first couple of minutes of the movie I didn't know what to expect, and I'm not a huge fan or mystery/murder movies, but I do like this more than most mystery movies I have seen. I'm a huge fan of comedy movies, so thats why I think this movie is different, and thats a reason why I enjoy it. A moment that stuck with me was when John Book was in the bed resting and all of the guys with strange beards were around him. That image stuck with me for many reasons because it was really funny and strange to see them all around him. Also I liked it because it showed them taking care of John, and I thought that was nice and supportive. I don't have a reasoning exactly for why he picked Amish people exactly, but I think he wanted to add a foreign taste to the movie. I also think that most of Weir's are not american, they always have to do something with another country, and I think he Amish people to keep that tradition going. I think its fine for him to keep the gun if he's going out to the town. He is just using the gun for protection of him and the Lapp family. I think if he should need the gun then it is necessary, but I like the idea how Rachel Lapp made John keep the gun in a safe spot in the house.
ReplyDelete1. I like what I’ve seen this far into the movie. It’s a strange plot, not one that I ever would have imagined, but I like it. What strikes me more than anything is the choice that Weir makes to place Samuel as the only witness to the murder. Samuel is a child first off, and then is also an Amish child on top of that, so not only is he innocent to the world around him in general, he is also completely naïve to the “English” world outside of his family’s community. Weir makes a conscious decision to have such a violent (and I assume it was violent because my eyes were covered) crime committed in front of a child, because it causes an outrage among viewers. I mean, Samuel is maybe 7 or 8 years old and he’s just witnessed a man get brutally murdered. It’s unreal.
ReplyDelete2.
I think that Weir depicts the Amish as something different from the norm, but not as anything that is better or worse than our “English” society. I think that Weir purposefully puts them into his film in the middle of a sticky situation so that we are left with an inability to pass judgment, neither positive or negative.
3. I think that John Book needs to pull a Gatsby and get out of Philadelphia/Pennsylvania area and change his name and start a new life. If he stays on the force, he’s going to get killed. If he stays at the farm, he’s going to get killed. If he gets out and changes his name, he could probably survive.
1.The movie is good. Just good. Maybe I don't like mysteries because it seems very slow to me. It's slow but the other characteristics such as the comedy and character choice make me enjoy it a little bit more. I really like the way they compare the little boy and Harrison Ford. Weir gives them a connection because they're both in the same boat. Both are seeing a world for the first time and need to make a decision. This is why I love the scene when they go to eat the hot dogs. When the boy sees Harrison Ford eat the hot dog, the child emulates him. I love that scene.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Weir is showing the Amish country to show the flaws in our society. He is showing the contrast between a world where people are being governed constantly and a simplistic society. In the governed society the "governors" are corrupt and crime is everywhere compared to the world with little to no government has no crime at all. In the scene with the phones in Amish country could be a comment on materialism. There is so much contrast between the Amish country and Baltimore that it could be a number of possibilities.
3. Harrison Ford learns a lot about himself while he's in Amish country. I think he will use what he learns about the world and who he wants to be and bring it back to Baltimore to seek justice. If he's lucky he can walk away with the girl as well.
As John noted, this film feels far more accessible than any previous by Weir. In truth, there lies a very real feeling of safety in the familiarity of Witness. The story is quite unique no doubt, but Weir uses a canvas for this particular painting that most Americans are quite comfortable with. Within this bubble of safety, I am loving the movie. Weir has efficiently engraved the image of little Joshua witnessing a throat slicing into my mind, not to leave it for a little while.
ReplyDeleteIt has become my expectation to be thrown into "a stranger's land" in these Weir movies. I might even be disappointed if I were not. The movies takes us into the world of the Amish in a very truthful, observational way. We look through their eyes. A beautiful people away from the complexities—good and bad— of the world. Society (Harrison Ford)seems to view the Amish with some degree of contempt, thinking they are hiding from reality or fearfully clinging to the past. Perhaps this is so, but one mustn't ignore the evidence: these people come together in a explosion of love and support at the death of one of their members, these people will not take a human life no matter the circumstance, and these people will take in a stranger as their own despite the fact he was less than hospitable to them. A simple people, sure, but, in that simplicity, they do in fact find a sort of godliness. So, what is Weir saying? Well, isn't it obvious?
Realistically, I see little possibility of the man who is John Book becoming an Amish, despite his ability to appreciate that action's potential. Change is, of course, possible; however, it would require a fundamental reassessment of self for Book to become Amish, and I am skeptical that the man has even the tools to do so. He was blind and lost as a cop. His life was slave to the world of definitions, "tradition" or whatever you'd like to call it. His life held little internal contentment or meaning. The process of taking oneself from this place of extremity to a nearly opposing one is quite an undertaking. So, I suppose, for me the question is less "will Book make this unrealistically drastic step from superficial city boy to religious zen master?" and more "will he take the first step?" Because this is now Hollywood, I say yes.
1. I’m enjoying this film a lot. It’s definitely different than the other ones we’ve watched. During some of the scenes in the beginning it felt almost like the traditional American crime drama/thriller that Harrison Ford is so fond of (Frantic, the Fugitive, Patriot Games…), but there’s definitely more to it. It’s different from Gallipoli in that we don’t know any of the characters nearly as well as we knew Archie and Frank, however it’s not just a typical detective story. As the second question addresses, this is another story about a traveler. The scenes in the train station were very memorable. It was interesting to see Samuel experiencing a new world for the firs time. Also, rolling into the next stall was pretty quick thinking.
ReplyDelete2. So far the majority of the film has been set in Amish country. Weir sets up the movie to make it feel almost like the Amish setting is what’s familiar while the rest of the world is strange and foreign. Despite the fact that I know I would not like living (or even spending a significant amount of time) in a place like that, the Amish country in the movie like the more sensible of the two places. Everyone is so nice and nothing bad happens. They’re supposed to be the people that can teach John something about life. Whatever happens I really hope John and Rachel don’t end up married or anything. Seeing John renounce the outside world for a permanent flat black hat would be too much.
3. Well I sort of addressed this in the last question because I hadn’t read this one yet. I think it’s nice that he’s learning some new things about life and different ways of living. He can certainly take some of those values back with him. But I really really hop he does not give up everything to stay. I don’t think it’s likely that somebody who’s grown up and lived their whole life in the modern world could suddenly drop it and move to a farm with no phone and. Well people do that sometimes…it doesn’t usually work out too well. That’s my advice to Weir, not John. I don’t think it would make sense at all in terms of the story. My advice to John if this were real would be to take something away from his experience but to make sure he leaves in the end. Maybe it’s just me, but the thought of giving up (even a crime riddled) city for a place like that is terrifying.
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ReplyDeleteSo far I’m really loving this movie, but that could just be because I love basically every Harrison Ford character due to the cynicism and humor a character of his usually possesses--whether it’s Han Solo, Indiana Jones, or (now) John Book. The image(s) that stuck with me the most was the way that Weir continued to have shots of the wagon standing in such stark contrast to its surroundings. Really any moment when the film allowed the audience to stand back from the scene and see how much the Amish people and their culture don’t fit in with the rest of the world seemed to be of important significance for me.
ReplyDeleteLike Katherine, I believe that Peter Weir is trying his best to depict the Amish as real, normal people, unlike what many (and myself most likely) would think of them at a first glance. Normally, I might immediately judge them by their strange old-fashioned appearance and manners, but Weir gives us a look at how much the Amish are exactly like us with their communities, feelings, stories, etc. However, I do think that Weir tries to make a point that the Amish are primarily focused on peace when the grandfather lectures Samuel about guns just as you quoted above, which, unlike at first glance, makes us seem like the weird ones who like violence and corruption, etc.
Either way, if John stays at the farm or goes back, the bad guys (Danny Glover and company) are going to do their best to find and kill him. I think that he needs to get away from the Lapp family because he’s putting them in danger by being there in the first place. But perhaps his experience at the Amish farm will give him some sudden insight on the situation and his beliefs. I think that the best advice I could give him is for him not to forget the values he learned during his stay in Amish country if he decides to leave. And of course I'm guessing that he gets the girl in the end, too...
So far, I like the movie. There is a pretty straight forward plot, and I did find it really interesting how Weir changed the main character. I first thought that this movie was going to be about a boy exploring life outside of his Amish community, and therefore didn’t get the title… But it made sense after the murder scene.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the amish community is supposed to show how violent and unkind our society is today. Although many people n the movie view the Amish as “quant” I believe that their lifestyle is supposed to give a type of modern Eden, were everyone is good and follows in a righteous path.
I can’t really decide if Book should stay, I think that maybe his experience in the Amish community might be very helpful in making him a better cop and man. However, the Amish life is obviously safer than the life that Book lead in Philadelphia. I know that if I was in Book’s place, I would probably want to stay, but I would still go back and sort out my problems and make sure that my sister and her kids were still safe. In addition, I don’t really like the idea of being chased down for the rest of my life. However, I don’t know if I would return to the Amish community after settling my business in the city.
I like this movie a lot so far. it blends comedy, murder mystery and thriller very well. It is interesting to get a view inside the Amish community and see details of a murder investigation. The one image that stayed with me was when John Boom came downstairs in the traditional Amish outfit, and it didn't fit at all. It was an interesting scene because although it was comedic, it symbolized it wasn't right for him to be there.
ReplyDeleteThe Amish are proud of who they are, but as Rachel is out in the city, she realizes they are different. Throughout the movie Rachel is stressing the fact that Amish people are simply just "plain" and "traditional" so that city people such as John don't look at them too differently. The Amish are very welcoming and friendly as well.
Based off of what i have seen in other Weir films, i don't think we will see the decision John Book makes. I think ultimately it would be better for him to return to the city, but i think something dramatic will happen and we will never find out.
I like this movie, although for different reasons than I like The Last Wave and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Instead of being challenged and intrigued by the movies thematic elements, Witness lets me be carried away by the plot. Unlike some of his other films, I actually feel comfortable rather than challenged while watching this movie; the familiar face of Harrison Ford, the cute kid, the comic relief. Because of these comforting elements, this movie seems more formulaic and mainstream than the other movies we have watched. The moment that stayed with me was when Samuel was staring at the bronze statue of the angel carrying the dead body. This moment was compelling for two reasons. One, the kid is probably the cutest kid ever, and it’s great to see the wonder in his eyes as he stares at the statue. Two, what is the significance of that statue? Why is it an angel carrying at dead man? Is Jack Book represented by the dead man (because before his life was sucked up by his job, and now he’s developing a new life with better values because of the Amish), or is he the angel (because he saved the boy)?
ReplyDeleteThe first response when we meet the Amish is to dismiss them as totally alien and backward (“Those Amish are so weird!” Why are they so crazy?") , or completely romanticize them (“Ooh, look at the Amish who have stayed pure and uncorrupted by our violent, immoral, urban world!”). In his depiction of the Amish, Weir is trying to make us look at them not as aliens or romanticized figures, but as real people. Yes, they have things that separate them from the urbanized world; they dress differently, they get their milk straight from the cows rather than the grocery store. They do have significantly better moral values. However, they are still real people. They make jokes, tell stories, gossip, etc.
3.I don’t think Book should leave the urbanized world. He just wouldn’t fit in, wouldn’t be happy in the Amish world. However, he should learn from the Amish, and adopt some of their values so he becomes more family-oriented and less violent. I thought Book was a pretty sorry character before the Amish came along to teach him some lessons, smashing the black man he thought was the culprit into the window, acting erratically, having few connections with other human beings.
The thing that I really like about the movie so far is that John seems to be integrating into Amish life, although I'm worried it's not going to last for much longer. And that is what I would tell him to do, at least the way things have gone for him. It may not be my advice to his partner or somebody else. But he has these people chasing him and they can't find him there and he has this girl he likes with a cute kid and to be quite honest it seems like his life could use a little less stress. Though he may feel like he has unfinished business (which I'm predicting is what's going to happen, rather than McFee finding him) I would like to walk up to John Book, grab him by the shoulders and shake him and tell him not to let pride get in the way of his happiness because that sort of thing always happens with people (men) in movies. And I suppose it would make a short and not very interesting movie but if he decided to settle down with the Amish right now and the movie ended I would be totally okay with that.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Samuel being introduced to "our" world is that it starts off as this new, exciting, slightly intimidating place with all these new people and sights and magnificent statues of angels but then it's terrifying and he witnesses a murder. And on the one hand, it made me so sad to see this child having this new experience and I desperately wanted him to continue to see the wonder in this new world and instead which is not only wrong in this new world he's come to but in his world is completely unthinkable. But on the other hand, I feel like that's kind of just what the world is and what all of us experience every day. The world is exciting and it's new, there's beautiful places to visit and new people to meet and things to experience but then you turn on the news and 13 people were killed in a school shooting or I go to the gas station at 8:30 PM in a well populated area and yet can't help but feel on guard. I believe that there's at least 70% on the good side but the world is this constant give and take of good things and terrible, terrifying things and I think that the way we have to deal with new situations puts us all in a childlike sort of mindset in a way. On the other hand, with John's reaction to the Amish world, I don't think he's really seen the true beauty of it yet but it also hasn't been terrifying but it's early and I'm not 100% sure what to make of it yet.
1. I am really enjoying the film so far. I find Samuel and John Book to be very relatable and interesting characters, unlike the characters in some of the films we've watched previously. We discover this unique world of the Amish alongside John, so we can really understand his journey. Although Samuel comes from a different world than most viewers, his childish excitement and wonder about new objects and the way they work is very relatable. I also love the mix of mystery and comedy in the film. Although there is certainly tension, the film is a lot easier to watch than some of the others, (yet not so easy that you aren't prompted to think.) If that were the case, it wouldn't be Peter Weir! The image of Samuel seeing the water fountain stuck with me. His sheer amazement at an object I take for granted was startling, and somewhat refreshing. The scenes where Rachel had John's gun also stood out to me. The way she handled the gun and her method of hiding it showed the intense feelings toward violence that the Amish share.
ReplyDelete2. We have certainly seen a lot of comedy that is somewhat at the Amish's expense, and I think the film makes them out to be a little ridiculous. This is shown in the scene above where John works on the farm, in the scene where he wakes up to a crowd of Amish men around his bed, and in the scene where the Amish carriage is followed by an eight-wheeler. At the same time, they are sympathetic characters. While John's is a world of violence and betrayal where people conspire to slit the throats of policemen to get what they want, the Amish community is quaint and peaceful. They get up at 4 in the morning to milk cows and eat a blessed meal. As we watch the movie we get more information about the Amish people, and Weir stops depicting them as foreign. As we finish the movie this will become more clear, but I think that Weir is trying to show the viewer that although the Amish will seem strange and silly at first, if the time is taken to learn about and connect with them, they are no lower than the people of the city. Maybe they're even a more peaceful, advanced community?
3. I don't think I understand the situation and the consequences that would arise from each choice to give informed advice. It seems to me, however, that hiding out with the Amish people forever would be cowardly and disappointing. I want the men to be convicted. I don't really understand why John would consider remaining in Amish country. (Honestly, I didn't even realize that decision was part of the conflict.) He seems to be the type of person that searches for justice, and I think he should fight for that. This is not to say, however, that he wouldn't benefit from a little time in Amish country to mellow out and not get shot at.
1. I like this movie a lot. So far I would rank it in my top three movies we have seen. It is not my favorite movie we have seen, but it may be my second favorite. One reason I like it is because of the Amish people. I like Amish people not because I would like to live like them, but because I find their way of life very fascinating. I am equally fascinated by people who live in less developed countries. I am fascinated by them because to the technology is just a word or a vague idea. To people in the general population of the United States, computers and the Internet and many other relatively new inventions are very real because we have to deal with them every day. Not knowing anything about technology would be so different from knowing about technology. I think it would be an interesting experience not to know about technology. I don’t only like the Amish people in the movie because I am interested in all Amish people. I also like them because they are funny. Humor is one thing that none of the other movies we have watched have had that much of. This movie is interesting because it mixes humor and something of a dramatic story and it makes it work.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Weir is trying to make us see the Amish as wise. He does this by making John look kind of clueless by putting him in this alien environment. It worked on me. I definitely saw the Amish people as people of knowledge. This is an interesting way to see the Amish because they are people who stay away from certain kinds of knowledge. I don’t know why weir would do this, but it seems like this movie is kind of an advertisement for the Amish. However, he may not only be talking about Amish people. He may be using the Amish as a microcosm for all minorities that people don’t know many things about.
3. So far I don’t really have enough information to know what he should do, but I think that staying with the Amish would be a good idea for him. His life seems very complicated and rather violent. Staying with the Amish could stop his problems forever. It might also be wise in light of the situation. He could jeopardize his Amish friends if he leaves now.
1. I like how this movie is easy to follow. Instead of keeping the viewer guessing, it really feels like we’re watching a story unfold. The main Amish characters, Rachel and Sam, are very sweet and well likable characters. I feel like I have a real connection to them as opposed to other films we’ve watched. The scene that I found most interesting from today was when John Book is having breakfast at 4 am with Rachel and Sam, and he is so clearly in culture shock. He’s been showing them around the big city as if it was no big deal, and then he gets a taste of what they must have been feeling.
ReplyDelete2. I feel like the common view on lifestyle of the Amish is, “That’s crazy, how can they live like that?” The feelings of people not in an Amish community are expressed when Rachel is telling John Book about the tourists that come up on their lawn to get a closer look. In this film, the Amish community is reflected through Rachel and her son, Samuel. They are depicted as very pure, non-violent people, like most Amish people are. In the midst of all the violence of the outside world, Samuel and Rachel maintain this. The contrast between them and all the policemen running around and shooting each other really says something. Although they lead simpler lives, they do live in a world with almost no violence.
3. Although John Book is in a tricky spot and can not return home at the moment, I still think he should eventually. He has been in the Amish community for all of three days, and Samuel has already picked up a loaded gun. I’m not saying he’s dangerous for the community, I’m just saying that he was raised and accustomed to an entirely different world almost. John Book has seen and done things that he cannot erase. Although he is a good man, he does not have the same mentality and purity as Rachel and Samuel.