Plot & Details
In Peter Weir's thriller Witness, Samuel (Lukas Haas), a young Amish boy, witnesses a murder in the restroom of a Philadelphia bus station. Harrison Ford stars as John Book, the police detective investigating the murder. When Book discovers that the crime was part of a conspiracy involving several officials in his department, he flees Philadelphia to the Amish community where Samuel lives with his widowed mother, Rachel (Kelly McGillis). Slowly assimilating himself into the Amish community, Book eventually finds himself falling in love with Rachel in the midst of his investigation. Eventually, the corrupt police track Book down, and he is forced to confront them, while also trying to protect Rachel and Samuel.
- MPAA Rating: R
- Genre(s): Crime and Mystery,Drama,Romance
- Run Time: 112min.
- Theatrical Release Date: 02/08/1985
- DVD Release Date: 06/29/1999
- Distributor(s): Paramount
- Director(s): Peter Weir
- Starring: Harrison Ford , Kelly McGillis , Josef Sommer , Lukas Haas , Jan Rubes
- Themes: Star-Crossed Lovers,Farm Life,Protecting the Innocent,Wolf in Sheep's Clothing,Culture Clash,Witnessing a Crime,Fish Out of Water
- Tone: Sexy,Compassionate,Atmospheric,Bittersweet,Lyrical,Reflective,Tense
- Keywords: Amish,corruption,cross-cultural-relations,culture-clash,forbidden-love,hidden,murder,police,protection,shoot-out,widow/widower,witness
- Language: English
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Original Screenplay | William Kelley | Won |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Original Screenplay | Earl W. Wallace | Won |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Score | Maurice Jarre | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Art Direction | Stan Jolley | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Ed Feldman | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Actor | Harrison Ford | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Director | Peter Weir | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Editing | Thom Noble | Won |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Art Direction | John Anderson | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Cinematography | John Seale | Nominated |
| 1985 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Original Screenplay | Pamela Wallace | Won |
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | British Academy of Film and Television Arts | Best Actor | Harrison Ford | Nominated |
| 1985 | British Academy of Film and Television Arts | Best Picture | Nominated | |
| 1985 | British Academy of Film and Television Arts | Best Score | Maurice Jarre | Won |
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