The Truman Show Film Review

One cinematographic element that heavily influences the idea of power and influence in the media is its prominent use of non-diegetic and diegetic camera movements. Through the use of different camera movements, viewers can see and assume how Truman is feeling in the movement. For example, in the scene where the stage light falls from the sky in front of Truman, he picks it up and reads the label on the stage light. After reading the label on the stage light, Truman then proceeds to look up to the sky.

This scene is one of the few natural shots in the film which shows and symbolizes Truman’s growing suspicion and perplexity of the world around him. This can also be observed by the fish lens camera angles when viewers are watching Truman in his bathroom or other private areas which represents Truman’s invasion of privacy. With that being said, almost the entire film is compiled of different camera angles, primarily high and low camera angles, to help audience member indicate the state of mind Truman is currently in, in that scene.

Aside from the more formal and cinematographic elements involved in influencing the theme of power and influence, there are copious amounts of symbolic elements throughout the film. One of the most prevalent examples of symbolic elements in The Truman Show is Christof. Christof represents everything wrong with the media. Viewers can obviously see this through his manipulative actions and attempts to try and prevent Truman from the knowing the truth about him. This is symbolic of everything wrong with our society today. As Americans, we are so invested and involved in technology, especially social media, to the point where no one knows what information they’re obtaining is true or not since almost all information is someway manipulated.

Christof also represents a sort of God like complex by how he is in complete control of everything little detail pertaining to Seahaven. This is also evident when he is conversing with Truman through a microphone with Truman having to speak to the sky in order to communicate with Christof.

In contrast to Christof and everything he represents, Sylvia is symbolic of the truth. Viewers can clearly see this through the fact that Sylvia was the only person who even attempted to tell and show Truman the truth about everything. Viewers can also imply this because every time Truman thinks of Sylvia, he is always one step closer to discovering the truth about everything going on around. With all that being said, Christof and Sylvia are direct symbolic contrasts on each other with Christof symbolizing the manipulating ways of the media and Sylvia symbolizes the truth that’s possible within the media.

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