The Truman Show & Suicide

[Tempest]

I think the ending of the movie The Truman Show has a lot in common with suicide. The story is about a man adopted by a network whose life was constructed to be a TV show. He lived in a dome and everyone around him were actors, but he believed it was real life for like 30 years. The film is about him finding the truth and escaping. Truman gets a boat and sails to the edge of the dome despite the creator of the show sending a storm to try and stop him. At the end the creator talks to him from the sky and says Truman can't leave because he's afraid. The imagery of Truman opening the door in the wall that looks like sky into a black rectangle of the unknown is so evocative. Then Truman gathers the strength to walk out.



I think everyone who is suicidal is at that door. The ideal is to walk through the door, either to exit this life peacefully or to find a better life that is worth living. Personally, I choose to see the door as a metaphor for self-deliverance. The creator telling Truman he can't leave + the audience watching reminds me of my own parents and the other people in my life. They don't want me to go because they're used to having me in their life, albeit in a much more personal way than
watching a character on a TV show. In the case of the creator/parents, they have invested their own life and resources into giving their child an opportunity for life. But like Truman, I didn't ask for this. The choice to leave this reality isn't the choice others would like me to make, but ultimately I have the right to decide for myself. And at the end of The Truman Show, the audience cheers for Truman despite their personal connection with him ending. They were happy he got what he wanted. There are plenty of other programs to watch on TV.

I'm planning to CTB soon and tonight is the first time I really felt anxious about it, but this calmed me down.

 

[Midgardsorm]

That's beautifully written.

I think you really put in a perfect way, his actions in the end were about people accepting his choice rather than making him choose what they want.
Even the talking to him at the end being a coming from heaven resounding throughout the world with force is reminiscent of a god talking to the character (And the name of the character "Christ")

He using his "Powers" to prevent Truman from reaching the edge of the world, making a storm on his boat and everything.

To me, that movie is just as scary as it is fun.
To think Truman were being watched all his life and not only that, things in his life were completely molded so he accepted that reality.
Like when he said he wanted to be an explorer and his teacher pulls a map telling all world has already been discovered or that his accident on a bridge made him develop a fear of bridge where in the end the other part of the island where a part of the scenario that wasn't being used.

It's a perfectly made movie and very good to watch. It's and older movie so to anyone who wasn't watched, I 100% recommend.

 

[user_name_here]

This movie is like gangstalking on steroids.

So much more I want to write but I just can't.

 

[FuneralCry]

I saw that film a few years ago. Thank you for sharing, it was interesting to read. I hope you find peace.

 

[needingpeace24]

For me, I've been seriously losing my shit for close to a year and everyone in my life knows. At this point it does kind of feel like they are just waiting for me to walk out of that door. Not saying they want it to happen, but that it would finally be a relief, some sort of resolution. I want to give them that relief.

Who thinks of this kind of thing at 4:30am?

 

[Bone]

One of my favorite movies, and a really interesting comparison. Thanks for writing that. Interestingly enough, I had a lot of Truman Show-inspired delusions during my last psychotic episode. Incidentally, it's a named phenomenon (not in the DSM tho), and seems to be occuring with more regularity. In countries with a lot of CCTV it's not really that fantastical. Anyway, cool post.

Truman Show delusion - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Jenjoh2358]

Why don't you let me fix you some of this new mococoa drink?

 

[Istanbulite]

I think the ending of the movie The Truman Show has a lot in common with suicide. The story is about a man adopted by a network whose life was constructed to be a TV show. He lived in a dome and everyone around him were actors, but he believed it was real life for like 30 years. The film is about him finding the truth and escaping. Truman gets a boat and sails to the edge of the dome despite the creator of the show sending a storm to try and stop him. At the end the creator talks to him from the sky and says Truman can't leave because he's afraid. The imagery of Truman opening the door in the wall that looks like sky into a black rectangle of the unknown is so evocative. Then Truman gathers the strength to walk out.



I think everyone who is suicidal is at that door. The ideal is to walk through the door, either to exit this life peacefully or to find a better life that is worth living. Personally, I choose to see the door as a metaphor for self-deliverance. The creator telling Truman he can't leave + the audience watching reminds me of my own parents and the other people in my life. They don't want me to go because they're used to having me in their life, albeit in a much more personal way than
watching a character on a TV show. In the case of the creator/parents, they have invested their own life and resources into giving their child an opportunity for life. But like Truman, I didn't ask for this. The choice to leave this reality isn't the choice others would like me to make, but ultimately I have the right to decide for myself. And at the end of The Truman Show, the audience cheers for Truman despite their personal connection with him ending. They were happy he got what he wanted. There are plenty of other programs to watch on TV.

I'm planning to CTB soon and tonight is the first time I really felt anxious about it, but this calmed me down.

Well said. Love the film.

 

[Sunset Limited]

For as long as I can remember my life has been too silly and awful to be true. Soon I will show my middle finger to the camera.

 

[Hurt]

Great movie. Saw it some years ago. I can relate to Truman's existencial curiosity.

 

[Shu]

I feel like yeah we are in some kind of simulation or being watched by someones/somethings I've even been gangstalked by people wearing red.

This movie is like gangstalking on steroids.

So much more I want to write but I just can't.

Yo! You are a TI??

 

[myopybyproxy]

I feel like yeah we are in some kind of simulation or being watched by someones/somethings I've even been gangstalked by people wearing red.

Yo! You are a TI??

what is gangstalk?

ive thought of this not in the light of suicide (interesting point, op!) but rather that we as a species are an experiment of some higher being of sorts, not really real. our reality is but one layer of True Reality, which i believe does not exist. everything is subjective.