Witness (1985) - Murder Scene Analysis

Witness - Murder Scene Analysis

Witness was released in 1985 and was directed by Peter Weir. Peter Weir is well-known for his other films which he has directed such as "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)" and also "The Way Back (2010)". An interesting fact about Peter Weir: The 1st media production he was involved in was working as a production assistant for "The Mavis Bramston Show".

Witness also featured the well-known actor Harrison Ford who casts "John Book" in Witness. (Harrison Ford is well-known for casting "Han Solo" from the Star Wars Saga and "Indiana Jones" from the Indiana Jones film series).

At the beginning of the Murder Scene from Witness, the camera is pitched at a Low Angle Shot which shows a tall statue. This statue is called "Angel of the Resurrection" which is located in "30th Street Station" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The low Angle Shot represents the view from the younger boy. The young boy is dressed in a dark black coat with a wide black hat. This black hat is actually called an "Amish Felt Hat". The young boy is from an Amish background. The Amish are a group of Christian church followers, they live very simple, wear plan clothes and they do not adopt many modern technologies.

This Low Angle Shot represents the Young Boy's fascination and wonder towards the tall, magnificent stone statue. As he is from an Amish background he may have never came across such a thing due to the fact  that the Amish people do not adopt modern technologies. After this Low Angle Shot, the camera cuts to a High Angle Over The Shoulder Shot of the Angel of the Resurrection. This High Angle Shot represents the scale of the statue and the surroundings around the boy. It also suggests that the statue is important and the Young Amish Boy is vulnerable.

After the opening to the Murder Scene, the camera cuts to a Long Shot. Within this Long Shot, we see the Mother of the Young Boy sitting down, all alone with her Son who we learn is called Samuel. This can represent how the Amish are different to the modern world - they are like outcasts. The Mother and Boy are sitting on a dark-brown wooden beach and the Mother appears to be knitting - an Amish way of creating clothes. Her Son asks if he can go to the "loo" (the toilets) and she points them out to him. As the Young Boy walks over, he forgets to take his Amish hat with him. His Mother points this out to him and passes it back to Samuel. This shows the Mother feels very strongly about their Amish roots.

When the Boy finally reaches the Toilet entrance, the camera cuts to show a Close Up of a Man in a black leather jacket. This Close Up Shot tells us that the Man is an important figure in the scene. He then turns and smiles at Samuel which represents he is innocent, then Samuel smiles back. The room is almost has a black and white feel, even through the film in is colour, the   room gives an impression something dark is going to happen with its ambient lighting. 

The camera then cuts back to the Man in a black leather jacket. He has finished washing his hands and then we hear the Toilet door shut as someone walks in. This sound is called a Diegetic sound. This is where a sound is implied to be present in the action of the scene which is either visible or not visible. In this case, not visible.

The camera then cuts to show Samuel walking towards the end cubicle. The Young Boy, Samuel could of picked any cubicle in the room however, as he picks to go into the end cubicle. This represents the fact that he is further away from the door - and his Mother. This can show the distance from safely (the safety is the exit and his Mother) and danger. When he enters the cubicle, the camera cuts to show a close up of his face. This shows the confined space and the insecurity of Samuel.

After the camera cuts back and forth between the characters in the scene: the Man in a black jacket, Samuel, and 2 other mysterious men (1 of them is skin tone black, the other white) in the toilets. The 2 mysterious figures take action towards the Man in a black jacket. The white colored person forcefully wraps a dark red jacket/coat around the Man in a black jacket's head and tries to restrain the Man as he tries to escape in a Close Up Shot from the camera. Then, the camera quickly cuts to a Close Up Shot of a weapon - a knife. This Close Up Shot of the weapon tells the audience very quickly the upcoming events in this scene.

The camera then cuts to the actual murder event. In this scene, the representation of colored black people in the U.S. is strongly advised as the person who stabs the Man in the black jacket is a colored black person. We witness the murder through the eyes of Samuel in the toilet cubicle. The camera cuts between Close Up Shots of the Young Amish Boy's eyes and the murder event. Samuel backs away slowly, while in shock as the Mysterious Men start to talk.