Munoz: Witness

         

         John Book (Harrison Ford) protagonist of Witness shows two different lifestyles where he learns what is important in life. Book struggles in the movie trying to figure who he wants to be and what he wants to do for the rest of his life but this questions come up later in the film. Book shows his true self at the beginning as being a typical brute cop in Philadelphia by throwing punches and being all aggressive to alleged suspects that were innocent. Here it could be considering that there isn’t much background and we don’t really know if there were any past interactions between the criminal and Book but there seems to be a hint of racism considering how he had his way in the bar at the beginning. After being shot and the corrupt cops failed to kill him, he escapes with the primary witness Samuel Lapp and his mother to an Amish Community in Landcaster, Pennsylvania 

         Here John Book was saved by the Amish community who let him stay there till he was full recovered. As he gets better we get a fill for the community, which are very strict about their rules and are keeping a eagle eye on Book.

         Book first change and realization is that of leaving the gun behind and participating and repaying the favor to the Amish specially Eli Lapp. Book recovers almost completely and is now able to walk and do some choirs around the farm. He helps milking the cows early in the morning and learns now to be more responsible for more things which maybe Book had courage but no responsibility to anyone except to the law. When he is taken to build the barn for his carpentry skills he just feels better that he can do something good for the community without having to fight anyone. He even feels that he could do this as his future life though he knows there is still things left behind to resolve. Book at the end of building the barn gets enlighten with the concept of individualism as well as being part of a community.

         Book also changed in the sense of learning family values. Having no family and Rachel Lapp making fun of him by restating what Book’s sister said about having no family of his own. Book is very good in having the sense of protection not only towards his family and nieces but also to those of the Lapp’s family. He grows fond and even found himself in the dinner table where he is given a chance to show that the Englishmen are not that bad.

         Finally he learned the cultural differences and how to respect those with different faiths and religious values that goes against yours. Book felt in peace when he lived with the Lapp family and felt he could become a better person by learning some important values that the Amish taught him.

         But people never change and Book lamentably didn’t changed completely if not he would of stayed and lived with Rachel though that wasn’t the whole point of the movie. The point of the movie was showing Book as a hero saving Samuels life by eliminating the threat, which is haunting him. We can see that violence will never leave Book because it is what he is and will ever be. Book shows this when the locals are bothering and bullying the Amish people, Book steps up and says that it is his way and then punches the locals making a statement to not mess with the Amish anymore but showing that he is still tainted by the city rules of survival. “Once book emerges victorious over his foes, he realizes he must return to his world and Rachel to hers” (Pfeiffer 152) showing that there are still boundaries which cant be passed, one of them being the strict rules and faith of the Amish preventing Rachel to be with Book if not he would have stayed or she would of have to leave and that wasn’t Books reason for this whole film.