Why You Will Never Watch The Truman Show The Same Way Again

The Truman Show 25 Years On - How The Digital Age Has Made Trumans Of Us All

Seahaven is governed under the leadership of Christof who controls everything within the world. Nothing happens without his say - after all, he knows Truman "better than he knows himself", meaning every decision he makes is for Truman. He tells Truman that “there is no more truth out there than there is in the world I created for you”, but this is Christof’s truth and his perception of what truth is, which Truman has been victim to. When Marlon talks to Truman after his emotional breakdown, he says “and the last thing that I would ever do…is lie to you” whispered into his ear by Christof, who controls the emotional impact of the scene with a sweeping score.

Christof’s downfall comes in that final moment after revealing everything to Truman and thinking he has convinced him to stay. He wants Truman to say something meaningful to the watching world as he yells, “say something god damn it! You’re on television!” Only, Truman does the opposite, and instead gives his iconic line: “in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight!” Truman is finally free to choose his own destiny, free from the rule of a tyrant, and embrace a new reality.

Apart from being an entertaining story in its own right, The Truman Show effectively foreshadows our desire to continue watching our own ‘Trumans’ today - vloggers, social media personalities and traditional celebrities who are more online than ever before. Apps such as Instagram and TikTok allow us to become our own Trumans and Christofs in their encouragement to share every facet of our lives and monitor the engagement of each post - effectively opting into a system that The Truman Show shows us can be psychologically damaging.

In a modern world of “fake news”, algorithm governed content and a data-driven landscape of media, The Truman Show reaffirms why it's important to understand where that information is coming from and why it's being presented in the way that it is. It's not always easy to find that 'exit door' and break free. But, in a way, knowing why it's difficult to do just that is a victory in itself.