The Witness, filmresumé

Shortly after the death of her husband, the young, Amish woman, Rachel, takes her son, Samuel, on a trip to Philadelphia for the first time. In the train stations bathroom, Samuel observes two men savagely murder a man (who actually is a policeman), and therefore witnesses a murder. He helps Detective John Book, with the ensuing investigation. The boy fingers officer McFee as the murderer. Book soon discovers that McFee is involved in the theft of an ingredient used in the making of methamphetamine. Shortly after Book tells his boss, Schaeffer, McFee comes after Book, because Schaeffer and McFee are working together, and wounds him in a shootout.Being wounded, Book escorts Rachel and Samuel back to their home. He decides to stay there for a while to protect the boy while recovering. He discovers the Amish community, meets Rachel’s father, Eli, works on their farms and helps building a barn.

Soon Book and Rachel fall in love, but both are aware that unless one of them is willing to leave behind their entire world, their love can never be. Even though, Book and Samuel have got a very close relationship.

Once Book and some other Amish men are driving their carriage, Book gets into a fight with a provocative “English” man. The fight gets noticed by the local townspeople and is reported to the police, and Schaeffer will know. Soon Schaeffer, McFee and another man called Fergie have found Book’s position in the Amish village, and hold Eli and Rachel, until they say where Book and Samuel are. Book is unarmed in the barn with Samuel. He orders Samuel to run to the neighbors for safety and help. Schaeffer, McFee and Fergie split up and search for Book. John tricks Fergie into the corn silo and buries him under tons of corn. He takes Fergie's shotgun and kills McFee. Then Schaeffer forces Rachel and Eli out of the house at gunpoint; Eli signs to Samuel, who returned unseen upon hearing gunfire, to ring the warning bell. Although Schaeffer briefly forces Book to surrender to him, the loud clanging summons all the other Amish people. With so many people against him, it’s clear to Schaeffer that he cannot escape, and he gives up.