--- title: "Witness" year: 1985 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/witness" fi1m_id: "witness" imdb_id: "tt0090329" tmdb_id: 9281 wikidata_id: "Q488041" fi1m_score: 84 critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 7 published: "2026-09-15" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:35.762340+00:00" region: "CO" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Witness (1985) Directed by Peter Weir · 1h 52m · Crime, Drama, Thriller ## Identity Witness - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/witness - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** witness - **IMDb ID:** tt0090329 - **TMDB ID:** 9281 - **Wikidata ID:** Q488041 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090329/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/9281, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q488041 **Fi1m score: 84** · Critics 76 from 7 reviews *In a sentence:* The barn is more interesting than the murder, and we mean that as a recommendation > Peter Weir’s *Witness* is an affecting romance with a less convincing crime thriller attached. Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis make the attraction matter, even when the screenplay reaches for familiar solutions. ## Synopsis After an Amish boy, Samuel (Lukas Haas), witnesses a murder, his life becomes entangled with that of city policeman John Book (Harrison Ford). Book encounters a community whose habits and beliefs differ from his own, and a woman, Rachel (Kelly McGillis), to whom he is drawn. As the crime brings their lives together, the possibility of a relationship creates another set of difficulties. Peter Weir’s crime drama follows the boy, the policeman and the people around them as an investigation crosses the divide between city life and the Amish community. ## Review We recommend *Witness*, though the murder investigation is not the part we would send anyone to see it for. Peter Weir takes a city policeman’s encounter with an Amish community seriously enough to let ordinary life hold our attention. The crime gives John Book a reason to enter this unfamiliar place; it need not occupy every minute he remains there. That is an unusual confidence for a thriller, and the film largely rewards it. We become interested in how people work, look at one another and manage to live together. Harrison Ford plays Book with enough restraint to make his interest in Rachel credible before it needs explaining. His presence suggests that a practical problem could be dealt with promptly, which makes his uncertainty around Kelly McGillis all the more engaging. McGillis gives Rachel equal weight, making her feelings matter as much as the policeman’s difficulty in knowing what to do about them. We were moved by the moments when Ford and McGillis simply look at each other, because both make attraction seem like something they must take care with. John Seale’s cinematography helps us understand the attraction of the Amish countryside, although its prettiness occasionally makes the place seem too easily knowable. The barn-raising gives communal work enough attention for us to appreciate the effort involved. Stan Jolley’s production design is particularly persuasive here, where the structure being built gives the scene a clear physical purpose and brings the community together around a task. There is satisfaction in watching something take shape, and Weir does not rush it to get back to police business. Thom Noble’s editing lets the quieter passages last long enough for the actors’ restraint to count. A romance built on unspoken interest needs that time, and Noble allows us to watch the performers without making every pause feel portentous. Maurice Jarre’s music is less consistently helpful; it sometimes presses an emotion that Ford and McGillis have already made clear. The scenes between them are persuasive enough for us to wish the score would leave a little more room. The difficulty is Earl W. Wallace and William Kelley’s screenplay, which does less interesting work with the investigation. It follows familiar thriller patterns, and the writing never makes the crime as absorbing as Book’s interest in Rachel. The contrast between the two communities is too tidy as well, with the attractive countryside sometimes doing more persuading than the writing. Weir’s respect for the Amish is welcome, but we would have liked more complication in how their life is presented. The actors keep the romance convincing when the surrounding story becomes predictable. As a thriller, *Witness* leaves us with reservations that its admirers sometimes hurry past. Most critics favour the romance and the depiction of Amish life, and that is where we find the film’s lasting appeal too. Anyone after a brisk investigation may grow impatient with the attention paid to work and courtship. See it for Ford and McGillis, and let the barn-raising take as long as it needs. *Fi1m score 84, published 15 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to Witness, with praise centred on Peter Weir’s handling of the Amish setting and the relationship between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. The reviews repeatedly single out Ford’s sensitive performance and the pair’s restrained chemistry, finding the romance more compelling than the thriller plot. The patient depiction of community life also earns approval, with the cultural contrasts and quiet moments giving the film much of its feeling. The spread is wide, however, and the balance between romance and thriller divides the reviews. Variety finds the love story gentle and affecting but argues that the action undermines it. The New York Times offers the strongest dissent, acknowledging attractive images and good performances while finding the screenplay predictable and Weir’s direction perfunctory. Where admirers see delicacy in the handling of two cultures, that review sees an arrangement too neat to sustain interest. ## Straight answers **Is Witness worth watching?** *Witness* is worth watching for the romance between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis and for Peter Weir's patient attention to Amish life, and we scored it 84. The murder investigation that brings John Book into the community follows familiar thriller patterns, so anyone wanting a brisk crime story may grow impatient. Come for the courtship and the barn-raising. **How long is Witness, and what is it rated?** *Witness* runs 1h 52m. It is a crime and drama film. **Where can I watch Witness in Colombia?** *Witness* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from CO$7900.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Witness, and is it suitable for children?** *Witness* carries a UK 15 certificate and a US R rating, so it is not a film for young children. The story turns on an Amish boy witnessing a murder, and the certificate implies violence and adult material that most parents would keep from anyone under fifteen. Older teenagers are likely to find it more absorbing for its romance than frightening. **How does Witness compare to Brief Encounter?** *Witness* and [*Brief Encounter*](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter) are both restrained romances in which ordinary obligations make attraction difficult, but David Lean's film is the finer of the two. *Witness* attaches its courtship to a predictable murder investigation, which dilutes it, while Lean keeps his attention on the lovers, even if Alec is less fully drawn than Laura. Choose *Witness* for Ford and the Amish countryside; choose *Brief Encounter* for the purer, more painful version. **What should I watch after Witness?** After *Witness*, try [*Brief Encounter*](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter) (1945, Fi1m 90): A restrained romance in which ordinary obligations make attraction painfully difficult. Then [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero) (1983, Fi1m 86): Another visitor discovers that a small community has little need of him; and [*The Secret in Their Eyes*](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes) (2009, Fi1m 78): Another crime story whose unresolved feelings matter as much as the investigation. ### Reviews we read (7) - **Radio Times**, John Ferguson (5/5): The film is a study of cultural collision between a tough cop and the Amish world, brilliantly evoking bucolic life with standout scenes like the barn-raising. Weir's delicate touch juggles thriller elements, love story and cultural contrasts effectively, with excellent performances. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fqz2mw/witness/) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as an electrifying love story and perceptive look at Amish life that transcends its thriller elements, highlighting masterful direction by Peter Weir and strong performances from Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/witness-1985) - **Empire**, Ian Nathan (85/100, inferred): The critic praises Harrison Ford’s finest performance and Peter Weir’s adept direction in this character-driven anti-thriller that emphasizes cultural identity and romance over action. A standout element is the subtle chemistry between Ford and Kelly McGillis, highlighted in a poised scene of unspoken attraction. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/witness-review/) - **Time Out**, RR (85/100, inferred): Weir's first American film explores the clash between modern society and the isolated Amish community after a boy witnesses a murder. It is praised as powerful and assured, with beautiful imagery and a sensitive performance from Harrison Ford. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/witness) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (50/100, inferred): The review notes the film is at times a gentle, affecting story of star-crossed lovers in the Amish community but criticizes how the romance is undermined by an absurd shoot-em-up climax. [Read](https://variety.com/1984/film/reviews/witness-3-1200426365/) - **The New York Times**, Vincent Canby (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the film pretty to look at with good performances but ultimately exhausting and predictable due to its neat balancing of cultures and familiar screenplay, with perfunctory direction. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/08/movies/film-witness-a-tough-guy-among-the-amish.html) - **Eye for Film**, Antoni Konieczny (80/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a patient, affecting study of human connection rather than a standard thriller or culture-clash story. They single out the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis along with Weir’s direction and the quiet depiction of Amish life for particular praise. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/witness-1985-film-review-by-antoni-konieczny) ## Details - **Director:** Peter Weir - **Director:** Peter Weir - **Screenplay:** Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley - **Story:** William Kelley, Earl W. Wallace, Pamela Wallace - **Cinematography:** John Seale - **Editor:** Thom Noble - **Music:** Maurice Jarre - **Production design:** Stan Jolley - **Producer:** Edward S. Feldman - **Cast:** Harrison Ford as John Book; Kelly McGillis as Rachel; Josef Sommer as Schaeffer; Lukas Haas as Samuel; Jan Rubeš as Eli Lapp; Alexander Godunov as Daniel Hochleitner; Danny Glover as McFee; Brent Jennings as Carter - **Runtime:** 1h 52m - **First release (the US):** 8 February 1985 - **Genres:** Crime, Drama, Thriller - **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 1985); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Nominee, 1985); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 1985) - **Budget:** $12 million - **Box office:** $116 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMie2KoPVkc ## Where to watch in Colombia - Amazon Prime Video: rent CO$7900.00, sd - Amazon Prime Video: buy CO$29900.00, uhd *Checked 2026-09-15.* Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IN, IT, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, RO, RS, SE, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 1986: Best Actor (nominated); Best Cinematography (nominated); Best Director (nominated); Best Original Score (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated); Best Film Editing (won); Best Writing, Original Screenplay (won) ## If you liked this - *Brief Encounter* (1945), Fi1m 90: A restrained romance in which ordinary obligations make attraction painfully difficult. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md) - *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86: Another visitor discovers that a small community has little need of him. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) - *A Summer's Tale* (1996): For more patient attention to attraction, hesitation and people misreading each other. - *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), Fi1m 78: Another crime story whose unresolved feelings matter as much as the investigation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes.md) - *The Lunchbox* (2013), Fi1m 75: A quieter courtship, built from small exchanges and the hope of being understood. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/witness