MovieChat Forums > Witness (1985) Discussion > underlying sexual tension

underlying sexual tension

posted 8 years ago by WorthlessKnowledge
5 replies | jump to latest

My favorite theme in the movie is the sexual attraction between John and Rachel.

Everyone points to the nude bathing scene, but IMO the start of the tension is when he is in the barn fixing the birdhouse and she brings him a glass of lemonade. He kills it in one strong, manly gulp... it is then that her eyes widen and she looks him up & down - as if she sees him as |a man| for the first time.

Then she so innocently but immediately starts making excuses for the Amish fellow who is courting her ('he's a friend of the family...') and asking John 'what else you can do' (on a farm). It seems so obvious that she is sizing him up as a suitable mate.

And most people probably don't even notice that right after this scene, when she is in the barn helping him fix the car and they dance... she is not wearing a head covering around John for the first time, a signal that she sees him as 'her man'.

[–] manram24 8 years ago

veryone points to the nude bathing scene, but IMO the start of the tension is when he is in the barn fixing the birdhouse and she brings him a glass of lemonade. He kills it in one strong, manly gulp... it is then that her eyes widen and she looks him up & down - as if she sees him as |a man| for the first time.

Yep, and I love that scene where her face just glows with passion and I love love the scene where they dance.

[–] redban02 8 years ago

I think the sexual attraction began the moment she insisted that the Amish doctor must nurse Book to health. Thereafter, you see her tenderly caring for Book, even sleeping on a chair by his bed. She also, tellingly, gives Book the clothes that belonged to her husband.

[–] manram24 8 years ago

I think the sexual attraction began the moment in which she insisted that the Amish doctor must nurse Book. Thereafter, you see her tenderly caring for Book, even sleeping on a chair by his bed. She also, tellingly, gives Book the clothes that belonged to her husband.

Yeah I agree. I loved how she held his hand as she was healing his wound. I thought that's where the connection between them started, and even though they didn't end up together at the end I think that they both will never forget eachother and IMO I think they'll always love eachother. But that's my opinion.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (47421091) 8 years ago

This has sexual tension in spades!! I can't recall Harrison Ford looking hotter than he did in this film. WHEW!

[–] RobbieCalifornia 8 years ago

Totally agree. I had forgotten also. He was really something.