IMDb >
The Witness (1992) (TV)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Witness (1992) (TV) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 2 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Yes it was awful, but this film can't just trade on that moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Ryan Alosio | ... | Lt. Hummel | |
| Aaron Freeman | ... | Another Kid | |
| Jono Gero | ... | Paperwork Soldier #2 | |
| Gregory Martin | ... | Machine Gun Soldier #1 | |
| Gary Sinise | ... | Young Soldier | |
| John Sudol | ... | Machine Gun Soldier #2 | |
| Elijah Wood | ... | Little Boy | |
| Tim De Zarn | ... | Paperwork Soldier #1 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
19 minCountry:
USALanguage:
GermanColor:
ColorSound Mix:
DolbyFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Witness (1992) (TV)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Mother Night | Triumph of the Spirit | Anne Frank: The Whole Story | The Pawnbroker | Sophie's Choice |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | IMDb Drama section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |



A German officer is responsible for taking the Jewish prisoners from their quarters, up the path and to the gas chambers. He then returns with his cart loaded high with their clothes and possessions. Each trip he walks past the enclosure holding young children. Each time he has to content with the silent stares of a young boy. With time the young soldier begins to buckle under the unspoken judgement of this boy.
I will always give short films a go but I must admit that the films produced under the mantle of `Short Story Cinema' are not much cop. They seem to not really be worried about making them very good - none of them really feel like they have a great sense of style and the substance of most is lacking. The Witness is another in the series of lacking shorts that were part of this stable. The film trades wholly of the fact that the holocaust is an emotional, moving and tragic event in our history. For that reason the film's whole plot is the fact that the young soldier cannot stand the judging of those innocent young eyes each time - no dialogue and no emotion of it's own. Without a story it uses history to draw out feelings in the audience - a rather cheap trick that is effective but lazy. I didn't expect characters but I expected more than just the basic stirring up of real feelings - it is not a film to simply state `this happened, how awful'.
The cast is actually quite good however - even if they don't really actually say anything or deliver emotion that well. Sinise is OK and delivers a cruel role with a good lack of `evil' to him. A young Elijah Wood shows that he has always had Frodo's big wide watery eyes; all he does here is stare with the `pain of generations' in his eyes. I think certainly Sinise knew that history is able to do the emotional work for him and, like the director, was happy to let that do the work.
Overall, a worthy subject but one that is not delivered very well, instead the film just trades off the feelings that the systematic murder of the Jews stirs in us all. As a short film it is worth seeing once but it is far too simplistic and lazy to really engage even if the subject is moving. Not a good film but worth a watch - just a shame that it trades on the `look at this' school of filmmaking.