Witness

1985 Drama

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.

Director: Peter Weir

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas,Danny Glover, Jan Rubes

Reviews

  • This is, first of all, an electrifying and poignant love story....And it is also one hell of a thriller.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    11 May 2013

  • Sure-footed thriller, beautifully photographed, with Ford's best performance thus far.

    - TV Guide

    11 May 2013

  • Arguably Harrison Ford's finest performance, and one of the strongest thrillers to emerge from the heady gloss of the '80s, this is director Peter Weir at his most adept.

    - Empire

    11 May 2013

  • Beyond its fresh twists on the cop and romance genres, Witness is, above all, an anti-consumption film.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    11 May 2013

  • Witness" is both exciting and thoughtful.... And just as important to moviegoers, Witness is a genuinely gripping thriller.

    Gene Siskel - The Chicago Tribune

    11 May 2013

Awards

  • Best Film Editing

    Academy Awards (1986)

  • Best Edited Feature Film

    American Cinema Editors (1986)

  • John Seale

    Australian Cinematographers Society (1985)

  • Best Foreign Language Film

    Awards of the Japanese Academy (1986)

     
  • Best Score

    BAFTA Awards (1986)