Mark Pollock

This past week Mark Pollock came into our school. Mark first spoke to us about his blindness then about being paralysed. He became blind after suffering from detached retina's at the age of 21. At first he was in complete denial but after time he fought back and yet again achieved great sporting accalades such as rowing at the commonwealth games representing Northern Ireland. 10 years later while attending The Henley Regatta he fell from a 3 story window and broke his spine and as a result is paralysed from the waste down. He spoke about his emotions during the years after this and the srtength he needed to get through. His talk was both inspirational and saddening. He then told us where the money we raise for his run will go towards. It will go to various different charities and will also fund his therapy to try one day be able to walk again.

Witness Review

In our english class we have just finished watching one of Peter Weirs masterpieces; Witness. Witness was released in 1984. I thouroghly enjoyed Weirs aesthetically pleasing cinemotographic style of directing. The story is set based around the Amish community in 1984. Weir portrays the sense of community and teamwork within the Amish community. Weir uses the main character John Book (played by Harrison Ford) to look at the Amish community from our point of view. John Book is a police officer working in Pennsylvania who is involved in solving the murder of a man at a train station, there was one witness an Amish boy named Samuel- son of Rachel. When Book discovers a member of the police was behind it he realises he isnt safe. He brings Rachel and Samuel back to the Amish community and stays with them there. John Book ends up falling in love with the other main character Rachel. I believe Rachels performance in that she wonderfully shows how much she wants to be with John but shows restraint in not leaving with him leaves her worthy of critical acclaim. The seen where John and Rachel dance is an extremley relateable yet saddening in that we know they can never be together.

Overall I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to anyone but especially those capable of appreciating cinemotographic excellance ie the slightly older and more sophisticated generation.