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Reponse to

 

            "How has Weir used film techniques in Witness to shape your response to ONE of the following characters: Samuel Lapp, Rachael Lapp, John Book?-.
             John Book, played by Harrison Ford, is a modern American policeman who becomes involved in the homicide of a narcotics officer and the protection of a small Amish boy named Samuel. Book is seen as a person who is able to control a situation, but who knows when to consult those higher than him in the workforce and is able to communicate with Rachael and Samuel Lapp. There is a period of awkwardness on Book's behalf, but as he spends time in the Amish community he begins to adjust and almost accept their way of life.
             The viewer's first glimpse of Book is as a man whose frame almost fills up a doorway, as shown in the Mid Shot of Book's first appearance in the movie. As he speaks, his light, almost joking, voice is able to lighten the aftermath of the murder scene and when he speaks to Samuel, he could be seen as a person who could take short cuts (i.e. he calls Samuel Sam' after Rachael calls him Samuel') but as someone who can be understanding, especially towards a small boy who has seen something awful. This is shown in the Eye Level Shots when Book gets down on Samuel's level to talk to him, and during the next few shots Book is shown to understand Samuel's understanding of the way he sees people (i.e. when Samuel says the man he saw was like Carter, Book reaffirms this by asking He was a black man? He had dark skin?'). .
             Though during Samuel's description of the murderer, Book shows his ignorance as an American of his confusion and then amusement over Samuel's choice of word, runt. The Low Level Shot of Book has he is trying to establish the stature of the black man, from Samuel's point of view, conveys that Book, himself, can be powerful and intimidating to a small boy but is able to portray the man that Samuel saw.
             During the Happy Valley Scene', John Book shows his ignorance towards the Amish culture when heading towards Happy Valley, Rachael tells him "You don't understand.


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