I Witness (2003)

After 27 bodies are discovered in a collapsed tunnel in Tijuana, a man tries to unravel the mystery before becoming the next victim.

Director:

Rowdy Herrington

Writers:

Colin Greene, Robert Ozn

Stars:

Jeff Daniels, James Spader, Portia de Rossi

Cast

Credited cast:
Jeff Daniels	...	James Rhodes
James Spader	...	Douglas Draper
Portia de Rossi	...	Emily Thompson (as Portia De Rossi)
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Claudio Castillo
Wade Williams	...	Roy Logan (as Wade Andrew Williams)
Mark Carlton	...	Carter
Jordi Caballero	...	Captain Madrid
Adriano González	...	Umberto Zato (as Adriano Gonzalez)
Pablo Cunqueiro	...	Father Perez
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ricardo Alvarez	...	Bolo
Yan England	...	Jud
Norman Grant	...	Fields (as Norman J. Grant)
Oscar H. Guerrero	...	Antonio
Enrique Huertas	...	Ramon
Carolyn Seymour	...	Lady Anne

Storyline

Jim Rhodes is a human rights worker in Tijuana for a few days to make sure that union elections are fair at a maquiladora owned by a U.S. corporation. In quick succession, the police assault the strikers, the bodies of 27 peasants turn up in an abandoned tunnel that has caved in, and two U.S. teen bikers are missing. As Rhodes pokes around and speculates on connections among these events, he's beaten up, warned off by a drug dealer's attorney, and given varying degrees of help by the U.S. State Department rep, the U.S. Trade rep, and an honest local cop. It's always about money, but whose is at stake and how cheap is Rhodes's life?

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Plot Keywords:

human rights | union | detective | state department | corporation | 

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Genres:

Drama | Action | Thriller | Crime

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Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Spanish Portuguese

Release Date:

13 April 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apodeixeis enohis

Filming Locations:

Puerto Rico

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Promark Entertainment Group, Videal GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The letter Rhodes opens when arriving to Tijuana has the logo of the Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice) from Mexico. In Mexico, the ministries are called "Secretarías" (Departments) and justice is served by Procuraduría General de la República (Attorney's General Office).

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Quotes

[Castillo, who's a detective, and Rhodes, who's an American, are being shot at while investigating some shacks in Mexico]
James Rhodes: People hunt out here a lot?
Claudio Castillo: Just for gringos and dumb cops.

User Reviews

Today's Mexico, The Legacy of NAFTA and GATT

Like Bordertown, I Witness exposes another underbelly of corporate internationalism seeking windfall profits by escaping fair trade practices, fair wages and scrutiny by government agencies created to protect environmental concerns. Hiding behind Mexico's drug wars, the new gangsters of corporate thuggery use criminal means to cloak the cost of dumping toxic chemical waste upon the unsuspecting in a country where a bribe can cover any crime, no matter the number and innocence of victims. And like Bordertown, I Witness takes with fiction the excursions into truth today's mess media would dare not touch upon. Jeff Daniels and James Spader typically provide glowing performances while Clifton Collier Jr's performance places as something grand to see. Rowdy Harrington's direction is professionally able and the camera work is exceptional. Writers Colin Greene and Robert Ozn are to be commended. A film whose time is come and whose value exceeds entertainment, this should have been required viewing by Congress before passing on trade agreements that have undermined the quality of life on both sides of the border. JCH