The Truman Show

The Truman Show (1998) is a movie directed by Peter Weir, written by Andrew Niccol, and starring Jim Carrey. Niccol was due to direct the film until Carrey was signed. It was felt that Carrey's $12 million salary was too great an investment to leave in the hands of a second-time film director, and Weir was drafted.

Interpretations

The Truman Show can be considered a parody of the soap opera genre and reality television. However, it is important to note that this movie appeared years before the reality tv craze set in.

Related Topics:
Parody - Reality television

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There are elements of theology and ontology present in The Truman Show. Some believe it draws heavily on themes of Gnosticism. Gnosticism teaches that the world we live in is essentially false, and the creation of a somewhat evil and twisted god called the Demiurge. Another religious theme connects the film to the Book of Job, where Satan, in a wager with God, puts Job through a series of hardships to see if he will renounce God's name. Another possible religious allegory could be that of the Garden of Eden, where Adam (Truman), eating from the tree of knowledge (discovering the unreality he lives in), leaves Eden (the perfect town Truman lives in).

Related Topics:
Theology - Ontology - Gnosticism - Demiurge - Book of Job - Satan - God - Allegory

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Some Christian anarchists believe the movie is an analogy of an individual's path to enlightenment, search for truth and quest for freedom from earthly authority. Once Truman discovers that the world he lives in is illusionary, in which everything happens in perfect order, he has to overcome his own personal fears and insecurities in order to escape. He also finds that he has to disregard the views of sceptical friends and family, who would prefer things stayed the same rather than upset the status quo. In the last few frames these Christian anarchists say he finally reaches the doorway to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Related Topics:
Christian anarchists - Analogy - Enlightenment - Truth - Status quo - Kingdom of Heaven

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Close viewing reveals many subtle references to subjects ranging from classic television (The Prisoner) to the Bible. For example, the number of the boat (139) represents Psalm 139, where the Psalmist talks about God knowing the Psalmist's location and his every thought. The creator of the television show, "Christof" (Ed Harris), tries to take God's role, but Truman refutes this claim ("You never had a camera in my head"). Of particular interest is the line "Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light", which we see literally when Christof hunts for the escaped Truman.

Related Topics:
The Prisoner - Bible - Psalm - Ed Harris

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