MovieChat Forums > Witness (1985) Discussion > Nude scene completely out of place.

Nude scene completely out of place.

posted 16 years ago by akackley
44 replies | jump to latest

I'm from Ohio, which has the largest Amish population in the U.S., and while I am by no means an expert on the Amish, I cannot imagine an Amish woman exposing herself like that. The scene should have been left out, because there's a scene later on that is much more accurate. Amish women believe that their hair is their glory and should only be revealed to their husbands, which is why they wear bonnets, and this is touched upon towards the end of the movie when the camera shows her bonnet on the counter, and then she runs out to Book. This is a much more accurate presentation of her love for Book. The nude scene was just exploitive.

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[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SpiltPersonality 13 years ago

I dunno, I thought the whole thing was a bit over the top.

Nude Scene:
Kissing Scene:

I just cannot imagine an Amish woman doing either of those things.

SpiltPersonality

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[–] JJdaPK 13 years ago

It's just Hollywood wanting to spice things up by throwing in something surprising and sensual. It makes sense for the story and the overall theme of the movie, but realistically it would never happen. The same goes for the nude scene in Titanic.

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[–] kag2-1 12 years ago

Yes, the nude scene was exploitive, but it also showed a rare movie where the two characters DON'T hook up even though they and their hormones very much want to.

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[–] tony_irwin50-1 11 years ago

I can't speak to whether it represents Amish fairly but I thought it was an astonishingly well done scene. It's about the power of human sexuality, without any gloss or "sexiness" - it's very plain (as they might say!). Human sexuality is universal - we all exist today because every generation in history has felt the power of it just as Rachel and Book did in that moment. I think it was incredible film-making.

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[–] saprater 11 years ago

It's a movie though and a romance to boot. While not culturally accurate, it made for a wonderful impression. The audience isn't an authority on Amish culture, but we're made aware how conservative and traditional they are. For her to expose herself like that really drove home the idea that she was drawn to him.

I understand that those who are "in the know" about these things get miffed. I do as well when it comes to things Asian. However, I mostly take it in stride because the movies are all about the illusion of life and not meant to be an exact replica. Reality isn't as easily constrained to a structured plot diagram.

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[–] IloveMuggy 11 years ago

Plus, can you blame her? We're talking Harrison Ford at his absolute peak of hotness! ;)

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tgjackson93 10 years ago

I agree to an extent that this is perhaps fairly removed from the Amish way of life but it just highlights that they're not too removed...

http://tgjackson93.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/blast-from-the-past-1-witness/

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[–] palisade-1 10 years ago

If she had been deliberately displaying herself in the nude, that would have been inappropriate and definitely "un-Amish." However, most Amish homes lack modern bathrooms and so her taking a sponge bath, late at night as she was doing, was quite consistent with "Amish lifestyle" of the time. Everyone was in bed, and she did not expect anyone to come in and see her. Ford's character is an intruder in this scene; he sees the light on, and goes over to investigate (it is not suggested that he knew before he got there that she was bathing).

He looks away, because he is ashamed, but she has done nothing to be ashamed of, and does not show embarrassment. It is not a prurient scene, but one that reveals the smoldering attraction -- stronger on Book's part, at least early on. Even at the end, the shooting script makes clear that Book recognizes that Rachel is "the finest woman he will ever know" but that she is unattainable.

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[–] Milkdoesabodygood 10 years ago

^^^^^^^^^^^
"Even at the end, the shooting script makes clear that Book recognizes that Rachel is "the finest woman he will ever know" but that she is unattainable."

Maybe! but she gives Book a standard to AIM for and to look for in a English chick. Think on it.

Spoiler alert for them spoil sports out there! Y'all like spoiled milk, stop crying over it!

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[–] Geosci 9 years ago

To paraphrase the dissenters:

"if someone's religion or culture prohibits it, they won't do it"

Lol I'd like to sell you guys a bridge but I'll be nice and welcome you to Earth instead. Welcome!



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