Witness Film Analysis

In society today, mentally ill people are often subject to misunderstanding and abuse because of their difference. In response to this, many types of media, including film documentaries, have been created to try to explain and explore the lives of these people. One such film, Witness, a short biographical film directed by independent filmmaker Michael Buckley, investigates the themes of mental illness, documenting the key protagonist John Harrowell during his forced residence within a mental intuition. By using a wide range of filmic techniques, Buckley is able to create viewer sympathy and successfully engage his audience.

Symbolism and motifs are techniques that are used by directors to add depth and further meaning to their film. Buckley utilises symbolism throughout to convey the feelings and emotions that Harrowell experiences hroughout his story. At the beginning, Harrowell talks about his little brother, with a silhouette of, supposedly his little brother, riding a rocking …show more content…
Through silhouettes, techniques like symbolism and stylised action are able to be used in a variety of situations. An example of this is when Harrowell is told that his sister had died. During the conversation, the nurse is shown bigger than Harrowell, displaying that Harrowell is smaller and less powerful than the nurse. When he gets angry and starts to throw the furniture around, the scene impactfuls due to silhouettes. Without them, the scene would not have been as serious, perhaps even comical. Afterwards, people are seen rushing in to hold Harrowell down. The blank faces cause unease for the viewer as these people are faceless strangers forcefully holding Harrowell, the victim down amidst the panic. What follows is a larger nurse standing over Harrowell, small and lying on the floor, which further represents the power relationships within the