The Truman Show is rich in camera language and profound in its philosophy. It is a film with flexible lens language. The film has done a very good job in the topic selection, narrative technique and the choice of actors. At the same time, it also makes use of small means such as plot contrast and music foil to make the film seem absurd and funny, which adds a lot to the film.
Director Peter Weir purposely creates an atmosphere of mystery, and at first things go wrong in The Truman Show. Truman finds clues step by step and gives hints, which attracts the audience to keep curious and adventurous with him. With the solution of the riddle solved, the audience escapes from the false world together with Truman, who discovers the truth, and regains freedom.
In addition, director Peter Weir uses dramatic narrative mode to make the film develop step by step. From the beginning, Truman wants to go to Fiji most, to his fear of the sea after the death of his “father”, to his discovery of the truth, flashbacks and other techniques to make the plot clear and smooth, and to reach the climax step by step: The sharp conflict between Truman and the “world”, the tense avoidance of thousands of cameras, overcome the fear of the sea, overcome the man-made wind and waves, finally towards freedom and truth. “A masterfully executed cautionary tale” (Michael R from the Rotten Potatoes.) The style of the movie is so unique that it really touches the audiences’ heart.
There are a variety of shots in the film. There are one after another shots in front and back of the film shot from above, even though the center of the shot has always been Truman, the leading role. Different shooting angles correspond to the plot, which enriches the connotation. Such as Truman open his secret box shot taken from behind, filming Truman’s back and his hand movements, items, and the audience can more deeply feel the space is narrow, the environment of darkness, to understand the Truman show was found from the camera, don’t want to things, because can’t see the door of the expression, also can feel a kind of mystery, When Truman was spotted piecing together the face of his first love Sylvia, it touched viewers’ hearts. Another example is that every time Truman talks with his friend Marlon，it is always at dusk or at night, and the middle scene in the back of the scene is more lonely with the background of the surrounding darkness. Truman expresses his confusion, but Marlon is guided by the director Christof on how to dispel Truman’s concerns. Therefore, in such a quiet atmosphere, it seems that they have a heart to heart. In fact, Truman was the only one who felt the irony of being confused and helpless.
There are several scenes in which TV director Christof touches Truman’s face on the screen. Finally, when Truman is about to leave, his retention of Truman can also show that he loves Truman. He claims to be “the person who knows Truman the best in the world”, and what the director represents is the role of parents. Even though he never appeared in front of him, he created this world for Truman without his consent, and all the perfect things he thought he gave came at the cost of Truman’s freedom. Even the parents who give life should understand that everyone is independent and has the right to choose their own life and pursue the life they really want. Love is not the reason for binding, let alone selfish love. He is a True man who lives for himself. “The answers provided by the movie show that The Truman Show is a radical critique of commonly held assumptions about God.” ( Robert S. Gall journal)
I have never thought about the influence of a script on a play. In many cases, I pay more attention to the director’s shooting techniques and the actors’ interpretation. But this film is an exception, I can feel the powerful thought of a screenwriter, his exploration of humanity and life. While everyone was praising Truman, who starred Jim Carrey, for his admirable performance, in my mind, the structure of the script is significantly outstanding.
Seaheaven Island is absurd, but all of the logic of The Truman Show is real. This film highlights the core of “the pursuit of truth and freedom requires great faith and courage”. To some extent, its core is similar to the core of Shawshank Redemption for the pursuit of hope and freedom. Different from the latter, The Truman Show has a novel theme and fantastic story, but it can highlight the core in this unrestrained narrative, which makes it a good work.
“The Truman Show is a “science fiction” in the most artsy way, bland and full of twists and turns, meaningful but not boring at all, and so bizarre an imagination that it often feels unreal. But the Truman Show, with its superb actors, complete timeline, powerful detail and near-perfect logic, tells us to be ourselves and not to be chained.
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