29 Day Meme: Day 24 - Your favorite movie and what it’s about: gamiila

When you've lived as long as I have, it's difficult to pick one favourite film out of all the hundreds, maybe thousands, you've seen. You'll have forgotten about a lot of them, while others will have left an impression even if you've seen them only once. Of the films that are regularly shown on television, one that I will always quite happily settle down to watch again for the umpteenth time, is Witness, starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis and a young Lukas Haas. It's a thriller dealing with corruption and murder in the Philadelphia police force, in which an Amish family accidentally becomes embroiled when an 8-year old boy travelling with his mother witnesses a murder taking place in the train station's restroom. In order to protect his witness, Harrison Ford's character takes mother and son back to their community, and because he is wounded, has no choice but to stay there himself too -- which is just as well, as his corrupt colleagues, armed to the teeth, are on their way to peaceful, pacifist Amish country themselves.

The scene I like best in this movie is that of the barn-raising, when the whole community gathers to build a barn for a newlywed couple, and it's a beautiful summer's day and everyone sits down at long trestle tables laden with food -- it's just so idyllic (and probably a long way from an accurate portrayal of Amish life, but still...). I love the music, and the on-screen chemistry between the main protagonists; the sweeping views of the beautiful farmlands; and the late Alexander Godunov's debut as an actor in the supporting role of Daniel Hochleitner, who comes to woo Kelly McGillis's character of Rachel Lapp. In the late 70s/early 80s, I was very much interested in ballet, and Godunov and Baryshnikov were the outstanding dancers in those days. When Witness came to our cinemas, the inclusion of Godunov's name on the posters was a major pull for me.

Day 25 - Someone who fascinates you and why
Day 26 - What kind of person attracts you?
Day 27 - A problem that you have had
Day 28 - Something that you miss
Day 29 - Goals for the next 30 days

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29 Day Meme: Day 24 - Your favorite movie and what it’s about