THE FORKIE PHILOSOPHER

The Truman Show (1998)

***SPOILER ALERT***

I recently watched an awesome YouTube video by Chase Hughes that offered brilliant insights into possible meanings for this film. He covers most of the stuff I had already thought of myself or learned from various sources since its 1998 release and then proceeds to go deeper and further. The video also presents some great philosophical insights that relate to our everyday experiences. Thus, I don’t have anything to add, and I would thoroughly recommend you check it out if you love dissecting cinema like I do:

What I will focus on is one question I have always had since first watching the film in the cinema and a new realisation that occurred to me while watching this video.

To get the full effect of The Truman Show your suspension of disbelief will be required. If you give your inner sceptic some time off you will be rewarded with an amazing allegory on so many themes; such as reality, persona, freedom, free-will and many more. The film makers do a wonderful job creating a world where you can immerse yourself and just soak up the story, so it would be a stubborn sceptic/cynic indeed who refuses to take the ride.

One thing always played on my mind though, from my very first viewing. Yes, Truman is stuck in this pretend reality. Yes, Christof uses many atrocious psychological tricks together with his control of almost every aspect of Truman’s world to keep him trapped. However, Truman is ultimately oblivious to it all. The pros and cons of that one idea deserve at least one post of its own.

All the people who interact with Truman each day are professional actors who get to go home sometime. What bemused me was Truman’s wife and best friend. What kind of contract did these two fucking sign? Marlon, the best friend has to be on call at all times to put out any fires relating to Truman’s belief in his bullshit world. Marlon must be ready to pop up with a six pack of beer at a moment’s notice to gaslight his paycheck (I mean friend). That must come with some serious bonuses or stock options or something.

What about Meryl? The wife? She is almost as trapped as Truman! I suppose she gets to slip away when he is at work or off doing something with other people, but that is one tortuous work schedule she has! What about shagging? Is that in the contract? It’s getting kind of icky now.

Who gets the worst deal here? Truman is being royally duped, yet he is blissfully unaware to this trickery. So long as his suspicions are kept at bay, he will never discover the horrific betrayal he has suffered and by not knowing he will not suffer – that sounds about right – right?

Meryl and Marlon on the other hand are conscious accomplices in this deception, and they do it for money. They probably convince themselves it is for art or some kind of bullshit though. Regardless, they are participating in this unethical entertainment for the sole purpose of gathering viewers and extracting money from product placement and advertising. The producers probably spin it as a psychological experiment or some kind of bullshit though.

On that note, I wonder if the whole thing wasn’t a study and in the usual duplicity of the behavioural sciences, the actual subjects were the actors rather than (or maybe along with) Truman. The people responsible for maintaining the charade would potentially offer a treasure trove of unexpected reactions to such a bizarre situation. What happens to the deceivers after they play a continuous role for such a long time?

They all know Truman is the dupe and the world is watching him in this large petri dish. They would all make fascinating subjects for anyone looking to study Human behaviour. Where does the role-playing end? Just a thought.

The scene where Marlon gets sent with his trusty six-pack to help reaffirm Truman’s trust in his (false) worldview, is a great case in point. As Marlon’s appeals to Truman’s friendship reach their peak we, the audience, are presented with the unsettling fact that every poignant word is just Marlon repeating what Christof is telling him to say. Yet, Marlon seems genuinely emotional and sincere in his declaration of brotherhood with Truman – that’s a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

It seems clear that Marlon really does love Truman, yet he is sitting there lying to his face – wow!!!

Such a fantastic tale! A gift that keeps on giving. So much food for thought in just over 100 minutes.

Now for the realisation that struck me after watching the YouTube video. I am rather perplexed that it never struck me before. Did someone else mention it and I forgot? It’s so obvious! Maybe that was it; hiding in plain sight. Maybe I was so wrapped up in the internal logic of the story I just accepted the ‘leap of faith’ as it was.

The glorious finale. Truman has faced his deepest fears and conquered all of Christof’s attempts to foil his awakening. He stands on the border between his curated world and the ‘real’ world. He repeats his famous catch phrase and takes that courageous step into the unknown.

Maybe our pre-Big Brother brains couldn’t make the connection, though decades have since passed and I only now just saw it.  No doubt for Truman this step across the threshold is filled with untold mystery and trepidation. For those of us who live on the other side of that dome however, we have a very good idea of what’s in store for our hero – celebrity!

A man watched obsessively by so many for so long will not be walking into obscurity and destitution. Paparazzi, adoring fans, managers, offers and contracts. Hell! That sounds like an excellent sequel.

How does Truman deal with fortune and fame?

Do Christof and the producers launch a legal battle?

Can Meryl and Marlon adjust to life outside the dome? I’m sure they’re financially fine, but psychologically???