Truman show as metaphor for JWism?

by seattleniceguy 10 Replies latest social entertainment

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  seattleniceguy

  Hello all,

  I saw The Truman Show when it first came out in 1998, and was impressed by the movie, and also a bit unnerved. I think somewhere inside I understood what the underlying message was and how it related to me, but I was not consciously able to benefit from it in that way at the time. However, I just read the screenplay, and I have to tell you, it is incredible.

  I wonder if the writer, Andrew Niccol, hasn't had some experience with high-control groups - perhaps even the JWs? - because almost every page of the screenplay details some aspect of control via doubt, fear, and intimidation, so much as to be eerily similar to what we've all experienced. And Truman's process of coming to grips with reality is absolutely everything that I experienced. Incredible. Really, really incredible. This is the type of story that I would like to write. It tells such deep truths without being heavy-handed about them. It conveys such heavy subject matter without becoming overly dark. For me, this is one of the most incredible stories I have seen or read.

  Read the screenplay here:
  http://www.screenplays-online.de/screenplay/78?PHPSESSID=642ec9b9a32df07653f50dc824a82540

  Any thoughts?

  SNG
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  frenchbabyface

  No thoughts ... you said it so well ... I just agree
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  ball.

  I agree, the Truman show is a great film. I think the JW metaphor is one of several that run through the film. The one that hit me straight away was seeing the director within the film as a God figure and Truman as his progeny. Also the general feeling the film can leave you with is that there is more to life than just our perception of reality, in other words there is another world "out there", I suppose a kind of religion in itself.
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  blondie

  My husband and I saw that movie and saw the parallels to the WTS. It was about then we started preparing to leave, mentally and then physically. It was not easy but we kept mentioning this movie to each other for encouragement. It is hard to leave a safe place for the unknown.

  Blondie
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  new light

  Sounds like a movie I should check out.
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  seeitallclearlynow

  I agree - that movie rang bells in my head too. I didn't leave for a few more years but never forgot about the parallels.
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  cyber-sista

  Now that you mention it--yes. I think i will go and watch it again now that I have exited and see what I get out of it. Interesting...
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  Stefanie

  I thought it was a great movie, I just didnt put it together with Jwism before.
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  Euphemism

  I had the same thought when I watched it... of course, that was after I left the JWs already.

  Of course, in that sense, it's kind of similar to The Matrix... and many JWs (who saw it despite it being rated R) compared the Matrix to "the world", and the taking the red pill to learning "the truth".
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  SixofNine

  This is really hard for me to talk about, because my father was killed by light that fell at a district convention.

  j/k

  I don't remember making the connection at the time, as a witness. It is obvious now of course. I'll have to watch it again, it was a great movie.