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From: malcolm@utcsri.UUCP (Malcolm MacPhail)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: WITNESS (spoiler and a vignette)
Message-ID: <1016@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 11-Apr-85 15:55:53 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1016
Posted: Thu Apr 11 15:55:53 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Apr-85 16:06:06 EST
References: <634@ahutb.UUCP> <487@terak.UUCP>
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
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> What I do not remember anyone mentioning
> about the film is its essential hypocrisy.
> 
    I don't see hypocrisy, but instead think that the movie was intended to
be a parable of two different cultures. Sure there were some cliches(as always),
but (as in any good parable) there were some strange conclusions introduced.
We get to see a gentle and good side of our world (why do you think the
"loving family of the bad cop" scene was in the film?), and a darker side of
the goodness of the Amish (i.e. the excommunication of those who don't 
follow the strict code of the Amish).  What about the scene where Harrison
Ford beats up on the town punks?  I wanted him to do it, but can something
so right be wrong too? It certainly blew his cover, if not already blown.
(Don't start a vigilante/taking matters into your own hand discussion)

    As to the bathing scene, I think that was just a "nudity to bring in a
few more movie patrons" scene and it is totally out of character. 
Vignette:
    My sister-in-law saw the film in Waterloo (where there is a good size
    Mennonite population around) and when Rachel (the Amish woman) saw
    John (Harrison Ford) watching her bathe, there was a loud "Oh no"
    from a member of the audience. The rest of the theatre chuckled quietly.
End vignette

    Overall I must say that I enjoyed the film, but as far as I'm concerned
anything that Peter Weir does is excellent (or at least very good). There is 
always somebody who can find faults in something, and sure it was the same 
old basic story, but I feel it rates up among the best films in a long time.

					Malcolm MacPhail