The Witnesses (1971): cast, story & where to watch
1971 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1971, The Witnesses is a drama film directed by Charles Elsesser, running about 77 minutes.
What it’s about. This stark Chilean melodrama concerns itself with the plight of slum dwellers living outside Santiago. For many years they have, with great difficulty, been faithfully paying small sums to a real estate man. This man has said that by doing so they can obtain title to the miniscule plots of land their houses stand on. In fact, he has been swindling them and does not even own the land he has been "selling." One of the aggrieved slum dwellers confronts him about this while he is visiting the slum, and the real estate agent shoots him before everyone's eyes. The question confronting these witnesses is whether testifying against this monster will make their lives even more precarious.
Who’s in it. The Witnesses stars Nelson Villagra as Ramon, Jaime Vadell as Domingo, Mireya Kulczewsky as Emilia and Marcelo Gaete, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The Witnesses has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Witnesses page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Witnesses tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Witnesses (1971)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Witnesses change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Witnesses worth watching?
- The Witnesses holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Witnesses?
- The Witnesses stars Nelson Villagra, Jaime Vadell, Mireya Kulczewsky, Marcelo Gaete and Luis Alarcón.
- When was The Witnesses released?
- The Witnesses was released in 1971, with a runtime of about 77 minutes.