Film Review: ‘The Witness’

Anyone who appreciates documentaries and legit investigative journalism should absolutely not miss it when the very highly recommended “The Witness” opens this Friday, June 3, in New York.
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When it comes to armchair sociology, the significance of the Catherine “Kitty” Genovese case ranks alongside the Stanley Milgram experiments. However, much of what we know of the brutal 1964 murder might have been exaggerated to such an extent that it has become materially misleading.

Unfortunately, in the 1960s, before Jayson Blair and the exposure of Walter Duranty’s knowingly falsified reports from Soviet Russia, the New York Times was actually considered a reputable paper—and its power and influence were undeniable. With contemporary journalism and scholarship starting to question the notorious story of 38 witnesses who callously stood by without intervening, Genovese’s youngest brother William set out to determine the truth, with James Solomon documenting the process in “The Witness.” 

In retrospect, those 38 witnesses ought to sound like a suspiciously precise number. It turns out the police conducted 38 “witness” interviews, but that hardly means all 38 indifferently watched Winston Moseley murder Kitty Genovese from their windows.

Kitty Genovese, the symbol of urban apathy, who was reportedly murdered in front of 38 witnesses-- and none helped. Apparently the apathy was invented by a media report. (The Witnesses Film, LLC)
Kitty Genovese, the symbol of urban apathy, who was reportedly murdered in front of 38 witnesses-- and none helped. Apparently the apathy was invented by a media report. The Witnesses Film, LLC
Joe Bendel
Joe Bendel
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Joe Bendel writes about independent film and lives in New York City. To read his most recent articles, visit JBSpins.blogspot.com
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