LINK: THE TRUMAN SHOW REVIEW

The TV announcer in this ground-breaking and almost future-telling film tells us all we need to know about the premise of this story: “1.7 billion were there for his birth. 220 countries tuned in for his first step. The world stood still for that stolen kiss. And as he grew, so did the technology. An entire human life recorded on an intricate network of hidden cameras, and broadcast live and unedited, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to an audience around the globe. Coming to you now from Seahaven Island, enclosed in the largest studio ever constructed, and along with the Great Wall of China one of only two man-made structures visible from space, now in its 30th great year... It's The Truman Show!”

Truman Burbank is a prisoner in a small-town American seaside paradise, but he doesn’t know it. His family, friends, and neighbours, in fact the whole town, are actors in the most popular, global and lucrative TV show that’s ever been, but he is totally unaware of this fact. Truman’s life is directed by Christof, the show’s god-like producer/director/creator, who literally controls his world. Truman has everything a modern American suburbanite could wish for: gainful employment, a beautiful and attentive wife, family nearby long-term friendship, great house, beautiful surroundings, and good health, but what he lacks is freedom. To prevent Truman leaving the elaborate set of Seahaven Island, Christof engineered several events in Truman’s life to provoke deep seated fears, of which the most debilitating was the fear of open water, therefore, Truman was trapped on the island.

Alongside the action in the Truman dome, the film regularly cuts to people watching the show. One particular group is in a themed Truman Bar, where the show is screened continually. This cut gives us the added information that the narrative of the movie take place over a 4-5 day time span - Day 10909 to Day 10913 - as shown by the counter over the TV in the bar. During these few days Truman begins to realise that his world is fake, and driven by his love for a high-school crush, who was whisked away from the show for going off-script, he tries everything to leave the island.

Truman’s attempts to escape are thwarted by Christof: traffic jams, bus breakdowns, no flights, forest fires, and even radioactive leak at the nuclear power plant. However, Truman has awakened to the truth and tunnels to freedom, going off-camera and commandeering a yacht to sail away, thus overcoming his fear of the sea. Christof throws a massive storm at Truman, where Truman shouts to the sky, “Is that the best you can do? You're gonna have to kill me!” Christof relents and Truman unknowingly sails to the edge of his world, where the front of the vessel pierces the skin of the dome. Truman gets off of the boat and with angst and frustration he hammers the wall with his fists. Following the dome wall he finds a short staircase leading to an exit door, as he reaches for the handle Christof speaks on the intercom system for the first time. He introduces himself saying, “I am the Creator - of a television show that gives hope and joy and inspiration to millions.” Christof tries to convince Truman to stay within his world where he can live happily and without suffering or pain and tries to plant the idea that Truman is still deathly afraid of continuing on. Truman appears deep in thought and Christof suggests that he say something. Truman looks up and says, "In case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night." He bows as Christof looks on incredulously, opens the door, and leaves.

The first thing that amazes me about this film is that it was created before the current trend of reality TV, social media and YouTube – ‘broadcast yourself’. In the opening scene Christof almost prophetically declares: “We've become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We are tired of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is, in some respects, counterfeit, there's nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards. It isn't always Shakespeare, but it's genuine. It's a life.” Today we live in a world of ‘Truman’ celebrities, the difference being that, unlike Truman, they are well aware of the cameras, and I wonder how much of what we consume is actually genuine.

My second thought was, wow, Jim Carey can really act! If all you’ve been used to is his early zany comedies, then this will change your mind about his acting abilities.

Finally, the film raises the issues of truth, freedom, and the mirage of happiness. Many people yearn for the external comforts and material benefits that Truman enjoyed; a cosy and safe place where everything is controlled and the randomness of the outside world is kept at bay. However, this idyllic life, which was supposed to bring Truman happiness, failed because it didn’t allow him true freedom. Every choice, every encounter, and every relationship was managed, monitored and manipulated to move along Christof’s plot for the show.

If happiness is about living the good life and everything going your way, then it comes at a cost. In the same way, we might endeavour to live our lives as if the world revolves around us, but to do so we have to shut off our ears to the many cries of the unhappy, unloved and unheard people around us. We may not live in Truman’s dome, but sometimes we can act like we do, disconnected and uninterested in other people’s lives by our own self-centredness. To really live in this world means being connected with the rest of humanity, which means we will be touched by their joys and sorrows.

For Jesus, humanity’s self-centredness wasn’t just the disconnect between people, but the interference between us and God, and that self-interest, rather than giving us happiness and freedom, actually enslaves us. Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). The truth Jesus referred to invokes the ancient Jewish concept of truth: the dependable foundation for building a way of life. Knowing the truth about Jesus and building our lives on his ideals is a sign of spiritual freedom from the captivity of self-regard.

In the end Truman chose truth over the lie of controlled happiness, which led to true freedom: freedom to fail, freedom to get hurt, and ultimately freedom to live. Jesus said: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36), what will you choose: the freedom of Christ or the captivity of self?