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Scene analysis for the truman show
Advanced English (Barker College)
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Opening scene
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Close up – Truman at the beginning
This is where we see Truman talking to himself in the mirror and we see his
desire for adventure and exploration, but instead we see his life as mediocre and boring
as Meryl calls him away
The very first scene in which we see Truman shows his face inside a screen
(which is itself onscreen). It is the bathroom mirror camera and he is looking into a
camera lens – in other words it foregrounds the idea of a lens of spectatorship
Name – Truman
Name symbolises how Truman is swamped with lies but he endeavours to
always seek the truth about his life and the world. By the end he succeeds and becomes
a True Man
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Name – Christof
His name draws a connection with Christ, to show that Christof thinks of
himself as god-like in his powers over the show and Truman’s life
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Vignette shot
used to show when the camera’s on the set of the show are now being used.
Conveys voyeurism and is tell-tale through a black shading around the edge of
the screen
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Lighting – Dark
Used in the Lunar Room to show the contrast between Seahaven and reality
i.e. oppressiveness
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Lighting – Bright
Used in Seahaven to give a false sense of perfection and to show things are
supposed bright and happy
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High angle – Truman’s arse
This awkward high angle shot of Truman gardening shows that the cameras in
Truman’s set are intrusive
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Symbol – Fiji
The symbol of Truman’s desire for exploration. Fiji is where Truman wants to
escape to. (T – “you can’t get any further away before you start coming back”)
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When we are outside Truman’s house for the first time and we see him
dressed for work as he greets his neighbours, we see Truman from above – as the studio
light crashes down onto the set beside him
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This startling change of viewpoint is one of the early indications that Truman
is a creature on a show, controlled from ‘above’
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Bridge Scene
Where are Marlon and Truman? What are they talking about?
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On the unfinished bridge
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The world seems to be revolving around him
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Their childhood, memories
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Mise en scene
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Dialogue
The camera cuts to a slow pan around the close-up faces of the studio technicians and producers
with Christof as their director. How are they behaving? Why?
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All passionately engrossed in the scene
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See them watching Marlon and Truman through camera screen - constant surveillance
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Slow pan
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Close up
Comment on the great depths of complex emotion in this intense scene
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Facial expressions
Do you agree? - The music behind the scene with its reiterated chime hints at the clock reflects the
ticking on Truman's trust
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Builds tension
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Non-diegetic music
Comment on why the whole scene till the end shot in close up
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Simple alternating close ups
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Shows the emotion between them
Marlon is acting sincerely with great skill yet knows he is lying probably to his only real friend. But
if he doesn’t, his job will disappear. His sincerity is the height of cynicism. Or does he really like
Truman? Is he perhaps like Meryl, only pretending affection? Louis Coltrane has been playing this
part for 23 years. (A scene in the shooting script which did not make the film has Marlon meet
Truman as he is escaping - and letting him escape). What are your thoughts here?
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Cant step back, playing for 23 years
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Double identity, literally is his life
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Feels guilty for lying but looks away
"if everyone is in on it, I'd have to be in on it too"
"The last thing I would ever do is lie to you"
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Dialogue
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Cruel betrayal of Truman
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Marlon is also being manipulated
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Audiences realises its not true
Marlon gestures towards a dark figure emerging from the mist on the bridge. As Truman
approaches, we see this scene on a monitor from Christof's perspective. Why do you think this is?
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Surveillance, Christof controls everything
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Constructing an engaging scene - manipulation
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Christof's calculations are callous, own apparent emotional engagement
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Shot in low angle (shot designed to make the subject look strong and powerful, Christof directs the
scene with passion, like the conductor of an orchestra.
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Complete control
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Triumphant moment
Comment on the non-diegetic music playing (Philip Glass) as we see Truman and his 'father' in a
close-up embrace. What do we see Christof do here?
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Creates full emotion
Jubilation in the Lunar Room
Executives come in and offer congratulations
How does this contrast with the controlled and overly bright emotions in Seahaven?
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Seahaven is hyper reality
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Saved the show, good TV
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Global response showing the audience that they have been manipulated
What cant we avoid in noticing about this manufactured scene?
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Fabrication
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We cant avoid noticing everything is carefully manipulated and constructed
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Become aware of movie making secrets
How does Weir expose and mock the way that movies manipulate emotions?
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Satirical - we are also manipulated by movie
Why is the editing so important in this scene?
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Visual effects
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Puts together Truman's world, Christof's world, audiences world
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3 worlds put together and contrasted
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See Christof's manipulation and orchestra orchestrating the scene
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Lighting – Blue (bridge scene)
The blue lighting when Truman reunites with his father is to show the sadness
Truman feels knowing that his life has been a lie and that his father isn’t really real
To emphasize his tears
During the scene when Marlon declares to Truman ‘I’d never lie to you’ the audience are
startled by hearing the same words uttered by Marlon and Christof, as Christof feeds his
actor lines
Dialogue is important within this film as key psychological or thematic information is
often located from exchanges between characters – the radio transmissions, the
marvellous duplication of dialogue between Marlon and Christof – both making
important points about artificiality
Big Close Up – Truman on bridge
Big close up of Truman on the bridge to emphasize his teary eyes which show
how the climax of the film has been reached where Truman has realised the truth i.e.
Marlon lying to him
Name – Christof
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His name draws a connection with Christ, to show that Christof thinks of
himself as god-like in his powers over the show and Truman’s life
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‘Trutalk’
What is the effect of the montage that introduces Trutalk?
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Shows us the shows history
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Reinforced the advertising
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Shows how global it is
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Supposed to show the utopia
What do we learn from the voice over?
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He has been under surveillance since he was born
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24/7/365
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1.7 billion people were there for his birth
Why is the claim that the recording is 'broadcast live and unedited' a half truth?
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Some parts are scripted
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Manufactured fear
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Actual world is edited, but no editing techniques
Why are we shown several different audiences? How are they behaving?
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Family living vicariously - voyeuristic actions, enjoying his world more than theirs
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Man in bath
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Truman bar
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Appears global, all areas of life, all ethnicities
Why is the scale of Seahaven's enclosure shocking?
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Sheer size
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Seen from space
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Manufactured controlled environment
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Shows how trapped he is
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Person closing door to show size scale
Explain the effect of the zoom to the Lunar Room. Consider the lingering shot of Christof in this
space
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Watching over everything, all creator
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Religious allusion
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Always being watched
How does Mike Michaelson's comment about how Christof 'jealousy guards his privacy' highlight
some dramatic ironies in this film?
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Dramatic irony - when the audience knows more, understands what's going on but
characters font
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Christof exploits/manipulates Truman
What other close calls have there been in the past to compare with the recent intrusion of Kirk
coming back into the show?
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Person in Christmas box
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Former cast member parachutes in
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Kirk was the one who started the crisis in Truman's life
-ironic, Christof started it
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Unpack the still of Truman looking at the sea. Why is this shot so important? How does it contrast
with the explanation of his father dying at sea?
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Curiosity, adventure, exploration
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Isn't scared of ocean yet
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Size - so small compared to ocean
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"had to manufacture ways to keep him"
-trying to justify
Christof said he was forced to manufacture ways of keeping him on the island. List the way and
comment on the cinematic features used to convey these
Teacher 
Too ate, everything's already explores
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Old map
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Dialogue, mise en scene, elliptical lens
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Low angle - shows he's in control of his own thoughts
Dog 
Elliptical lens
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Close up
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Aggressive, frightening
Father 
Scuba diver
What do we learn about the history of the show?
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Started with 1 camera - now has 5000
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Curious at birth - in his nature - premature
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Competition with 5 other pregnancy's
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Legally adopted by cooperation
We learn about the effect of Product Placement. What do you consider to be the bigger
implications of a comment that says "everything on the show is for sale"?
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All staggering revenues by product
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No commercial interruption
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Everything available on catalogue
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Truman is the product - they are selling, using him
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Family obsessed with show - criticizing US
Why do you think Peter Weir edits the cut of the security guards nodding to the comment "we
accept the world with which we were presented"
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Engrossed in watching
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Power of mass media, they are also manipulated
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Weir is mocking and criticizing US
Comment on the conversation Christof has with Sylvia
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Remembers her by her voice
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Instant recognition
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Aggressive tone of conversation
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'free Truman' poster - almost an activist
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Christof asking questions - belittling her
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Christof willing to put Truman in danger to stop discovering
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Undermining whole first introduction
-sheer cruelty, Svengali figure
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Arc of ecosphere frame behind his head
-cold, dark, religious allusion
"I've given Truman a change to lead a normal life" - distorting the truth
"Seahaven is the way the world should be" - his utopia, hyperreal, nostalgic recreation of a
time that never really existed
"Truman prefers his cell as you call it"
Comment on the mise en scene in this sequence
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Free Truman posters
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"say no"
What are the exciting, new developments coming in the show? What is Christof convinced of?
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New romantic interest
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Meryl leaving
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First on show contraception
Why is it important that this sequence cross cuts to the 'Truman show' audiences?
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Emotional music
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Close up of face
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Everyone's asleep
Comment on Sylvia touching the screen. Also effect of music
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Diegetic music
Does the shot of Christof stroking Truman attract sympathy from you?
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Creepy, obsessive
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Shows Christof cares
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Blurs lines between reality and truth
The sequence includes some striking visual metaphors, comment on the following
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Christof always dominating the frame
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Truman seen in a tiny frame in top right hand corner
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Facial expression of childish innocence which Truman maintains into adulthood
Power imbalance between the two
Treated like a child, no independence, not allowed to make his own decisions
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Cue the Storm
Transmission is resumed, and Christof is back in command at the control console. Read
metaphorically, this sequence depicts suburbia not as an idyllic place to live (utopia/false utopia)
but as a landscape of imprisonment (Truman's dystopia) and control. Comment on this shot and
then what we see of Truman
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Close up of Christof
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Christof whispering - changes as scene progresses
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Physical and psychological control
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On water, faced his fear
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Technicians query how he has escapes
What's the "hero shot"?
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Shot of Truman looking out from the boar
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Medium shot of optimistic Truman, covered in sunlight
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Elliptical lens
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Christof orchestrating - wants to gain media attention
What's so significant about the collage picture we see Truman unfolding?
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Sylvia represents
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Love, truth, morality, freedom
What does the cross cutting to the real-world responses to Truman's disappearance reveal?
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The viewers engagement with the show at its peak
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Facial expressions happy - voyeurism, gratification when he leaves
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Most people in truman bar are passionately engrossed as well as doubting, invested,
consumerism
What is so significant about the 2 shots of the boat - the eagle and Santa Maria?
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Close up shot of eagle and boat represent his quest for freedom
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Eagle - freedom, exploration
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Santa Maria - Christopher Columbus
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Quest for new world
What is so important about the silent communication that Christof has with Simeon?
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Displays sinister intentions

Christof is svengali figure
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Power and loyalty between them - they don’t need words to communicate
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Close up shots of their faces
Comment on the non-diegetic music as weather changes - what does it reflect?
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Music changing ads suspense, tension
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Reflects chaotic escape Truman is perusing
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Truman is in genuine danger
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Rhythmic, percussion - signifies danger
What are some orders Christof gives?
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Lighting x 3
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Again
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Hit him again
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Capsize him
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Keep the show moving
Christof is losing control, completely obsessed
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Willing to murder his creation rather than be rejected by him
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Manufactured storm is viciously real
"The whole world is watching. We cant let him die in front of a live audience"
"He was born in front of a live audience"
What are your thoughts on Christof's obsession with forcing Truman to submit here?
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He needs to appear as though he is still in power
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Megalomaniac
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Truman is the commodity, product
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Needs to keep his job
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Religious allusion
Truman directs his thoughts to the Lunar Room. Christof Ignores orders to cease transmission.
What are your thoughts on Christof and Truman here?
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They both don’t want to give up
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Competing for control
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Truman on quest for self-autonomy
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Christof wants to remain in control
Comment on the interplay between high and low angle shots
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Dominance
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Vulnerability
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Danger
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Highlights the power imbalance which was seen throughout the film
Weir uses cross-cuts to the Viewers' world while Truman's life is as risk. What do we see
happening?
Shows the audiences investments

Want to see him overcome control
-Ironic, they add to it
-they are part of the problem
What iconic pose is captured in the birds-eye-view shot of the boat after the storm? Where have
you previously seen this pose?
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When he stops the cars, when he first realises his reality is fake
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Religious allusion - no.139 links to Psalm 139
What's the meaning behind the score 'Father Kolbe's preaching'?
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It’s a heart achingly beautiful yet apocalyptic piece underscoring the scene when Truman
finally 'escapes' in a small boat in search of his own destiny.
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The music accentuates the emotional complexity of the finale with simple harmonic chords
peacefully inhaling and exhaling as if breathing.
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We reflect on the beauty
The moment Truman's boat runs into the cyclorama is a critical one. Explain why.
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Everything expressed through body language
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He has reached the end of his quest
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Shows how trapped he has been
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Ends experiment
All his emotions are seen through his back - powerful emotions in shot
Mid shot - not seeing his face, grief is private
Realised that his suspicions and ideas are right
Walking around the perimeter of the 'horizon', Truman finally finds a staircase which he ascends. Just
after he pushes the door marked 'exit', we hear Christof's voice. What was so startling for Truman
and the audience?
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Christof has never talked to him before

God-like, voice coming down from the heavens
Why does Christof pause, ever so briefly, when he delivers the line - "I am the creator… of a
television show"?
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Commercialism
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Biblical/religious allusion - person in control
What does Christof tell Truman? Comment on the close-up shots as he speaks to Truman and his
actions in lightly touching the screen. What's unsettling about some of the things that Christof tells
Truman?
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"episode"
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Watching your whole life when you were both
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Apart of every day life
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Small moments shared on TV screen
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Voyeurism, lack of privacy
How does Truman assert the ultimate privacy?
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"didn’t have a camera inside my head"
Christof is located in the Lunar Room. This position gives him the omnipresence of a god and when
he finally announces to Truman, his voice booms down from the 'heavens' in just the way the bible
would have us believe God announced himself to his mortal subjects. What is the difference here?
What has Christof been blinded by?
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Christof is only the creator of a TV show, not the world
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Christof is blinded by power
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Affection is one sided - Truman turns his back on the camera
What are your thoughts on the way Truman responds to "say something… you're on television" ?
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Responds with his old routine
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Commodity, power, manipulation
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Look of defiance - as if Christof's lost complete control

Another biblical allusion
We have cross-cuts to the audience after Truman leaves. What are the questions raised here?
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Watching, hoping he leaves

Sylvia, Grandma, Bar
Why does Weir choose to end the film with the anti-climactic shot of the security men looking at
the TV guide? How does this scene link to the opening scene?

Satirical

Switch loyalty to another programme
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Everything is superficial, including the audience
Quote – “we cant let him die in front of a live audience!” “He was born in front of a live
audience.”
This is during the storm during Truman’s last attempt to escape
It shows how the power has corrupted Christof and changed him into a tyrant
(megalomaniac)
He cares more for keeping Truman controlled than letting him be free

Quote – “queue the sun”
Shows that Christof has ‘divine’ qualities by the fact that he can make the sun
come up like god. Shows he is the master
Quote – C- “that’s our hero shot”
Said when Truman is in peril on the Santa Maria
Shows that Christof is less concerned with Truman’s life but with the ratings instead
He has changed from being a caring father, to a TV director tyrant
Editing also has to do with the scene’s tempo. Consider the ‘storm at sea’ scenes which
are ‘cut’ very rapidly to convey a sense of drama and peril
In contrast the interview with Christof is long and leisurely to suggest control and power

Symbol – Water
This is the symbol for Truman’s fear & triumph. Made to fear the water by his
father drowning, he is kept on the island by this manufactured fear. He sails to freedom
(santa maria) and walks on water

Santa Maria
What Truman’s sailing boat is called
The name also was Christopher Colombus’s ship that he used to discover America
Shows that Truman has finally got his desire to explore

Non-verbal sound elements are equally important – the sound effects – the
rip sound when Truman’s boat punctures the sea cyclorama; the music of the romantic
piano track over the red cardigan scene; or the synthetic ‘weepie’ music over the
reunion. These are all parts of cinematic language
Long shot – Truman reaching the end of the set
This camera angle is used to show us that Truman having his back to us symbolises his
freedom from the intrusiveness of the cameras and the audience
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Quote – “and in case you don’t see me, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight!”
This line is used 3 times:
First to show how Truman is trapped in “utopia” and how commercial his life
is.
Second when he says the beginning and the neighbour finishes it, proves his
life is monotonous
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Third shows Truman has broken free and is mocking Christof’s domination
Name – Truman
Name symbolises how Truman is swamped with lies but he endeavours to always seek
the truth about his life and the world. By the end he succeeds and becomes a True Man


Theme – Courage
Courage is what Truman presents us through his escape from Christof’s lives
It relates to us because the media controls us through manipulation, and we
must have courage like Truman to escape from its hold on our lives
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