Amish and Modern American Society

Module B: Close Study of Text Text: Witness ‘Witness’, an American film, directed by Australian director Peter Weir, is a film set in 1985 about a clash of modern American society, and an idyllic Amish community. Maeri Saeli describes it as â€Å"the two worlds meet, but never merge† This is shown in the interaction between ideas, characters and techniques that make an impact on the audience. The main ideas represented in this text are Violence versus non-violence/ pacifism versus direct action, relationships, and the clash of cultures. Through exploring these ideas characterisation becomes evident and many techniques are used such as film techniques, symbolism and these can be recognised by analysing scenes. Violence versus non-violence is represented through the clashing of the two cultures and the differences of their cultural values and ideals. The modern American society, where Book is originally situated is evidently a society that uses much violence to achieve things whenever necessary. This type of society is visually implied by Peter Weir as being corrupted, seedy and violent in nature which is shown through darkness, and filming is often conducted under the cover of night, in crowded and cramped spaces, and by using artificial lighting. For example the scene conducted at the Happy Valley night club shows this type of violent and depressive society. Book grabs a suspect from inside the cramped and sordid bar, takes him outside into the night and slams his face into the car window, for Samuel to identify, where we see the shocked faces of Samuel and Rachel who wait inside a light blue car which represents their purity and innocence during this situation and this contrasts with the dark, violent and ‘foreign’ society that surrounds them. As this light coloured car is owned by Book, it is also suggestive that although he uses violence, Book is a good and moral man at heart which is revealed throughout the film. Thus these examples show that this modern American society is one where you cannot ‘judge a book by its cover’ and they allows the audience to observe the individualistic and greedy views of the modern American society. However, this American society is constantly juxtaposed by the peaceful, harmonic nature of the Amish, which seem to have a connection with their land and they possess much morality. They are a completely pacifist society, which means that they do not believe in resorting to violence under any circumstances. Their society is represented by light (natural lighting/daylight), pastel colour schemes, long shots of the sky, barns and open fields, particularly in the opening scenes, and they are shown as a community whereas those in the modern American society are represented as individualistic. Throughout the film, Book develops as a character and learns that violence does not necessarily have to be resorted to under every circumstance. This is specifically shown in the ‘showdown’ scene, when Book is able to disarm Schaeffer by persuasion rather than by violent means, and the Amish community all gather around to bear witness and thus act as an aid in persuading Schaeffer to give in. Witnessing is a reoccurring motif throughout the film and it is reinforced as a basis of the film through the title, as well as the audience who witness the narrative of the film unfold. The symbolism of the ‘gun’ represents the evil and corruption of humans; its creation was by humans and it is now used to kill other humans. This is shown through the corruption of Samuel against the Amish views, as he witnesses the murder, becomes curious of the gun and his corruption is shown ultimately when he states â€Å"I would only kill a bad man†. This scene involves the audience with purpose of raising the issue: who is to decide when a man is bad? This involves the audience as they are able to make their own opinion on the easy corruption of such an innocent and young character. Eli, Samuel’s grandfather is represented as an important mentor and role model for Samuel when he sits down to confront Samuel about the gun, so rather than avoiding the issue of violence and danger that has entered Samuel’s eyes he takes it as an opportunity to educate. The clash of cultures, and the understanding that they can never merge, comes through Book and Rachel’s relationship. The ‘Barn Dancing Scene’ clearly represents how their love is forbidden in the Amish community and that their culture differences could never let them be together, even though they are desperately in love. In this scene, the lyrics of ‘what a wonderful world it would be ’ are played through Book’s car stereo as they dance under the headlights of the car that he has been repairing in the barn – thus there is a juxtaposition here and ‘clash’ of the two worlds which is evident as the car does not look right in the setting of a barn. The lyrics suggest that although their relationship could be wonderful, the WOULD shows that it would never happen under the circumstances. The quick cut editing and close-ups as they dance show their ffection for each other, and the fun that they have in each other’s company, however this is interrupted by a shocked and angry Eli who represents the views of the Amish community and this strengthens the idea of forbidden love. The idea that the two cultures could never successfully cooperate with each other in the long term, and the idea that the Amish society are conformists and value community, and the modern Ame rican society functions under individuality and personal gain, is shown in a scene set in a nearby town of the Amish. When young American ‘rednecks’ insult and wipe ice-cream across Daniel’s face, Book get increasingly angry. However, Eli states to Book, â€Å"it is not our way,† whilst Book replies, â€Å"But it is my way. † The emphasis on OUR and MY represents the two different cultural ideals as well as reinforcing the different views on violence in the societies. Book has been trained to be a cop finds this belief in himself and his justification of violence very hard to deny, thus showing how he could not permanently give up his American lifestyle in order to live with the Amish, to be with Rachel. Although the Amish believe in pacifism, without Book’s help, Samuel would have most probably been murdered by Schaeffer and McFee and this would have caused much more devastation in the Amish community. Therefore the audience, and the Amish community, are thankful for Book’s contribution in the community. This acceptance of Book is shown in the ‘sendoff’ scenes where Eli says â€Å"Be careful among them English† to Book, showing that Book is now recognised as a good, valued man despite their differences and that Eli knows that Book is not the stereotypical ‘Englishman’ that Eli fears but that he is a much deeper and kind person than expected. Throughout the film, it is inevitably shown that Peter Weir possesses many skills in the art of film-making and his use of interaction between ideas, characters and techniques are effective in impacting on the audience.