Dear Truedies

Dear Truedies,

Some years ago I went to the movies, expecting a formula, expecting something fun, something of an escape, of reality blurred bright. I suppose I'd expected a comedy because I wasn't going to an offbeat, dimly lit art house meets avant guard in it's underwear affair. No, no this film was worth billions and the seats were conventional and large, practically as large as the upgraded snack combo I was offered prior to the main event in a candy bar made or merch and money.
On this occasion, some years ago, I'd been busy. I'd been busy in my bubble, in between the walls, oblivious in a way, to a lot, as we are often in the fountain of youth. That is why I hadn't read about the film yet. I hadn't seen any reviews and anyway, at that time, it was a little easier to avert spoilers, opinions, pictures and pop up advertisements because we didn't use computers as much and the net was still adding nets, so to speak.
The movie, just happened to star comic genius Jim Carey. I had expected to laugh this time round too. I had expected and assumed a lot and what unravelled was funny, yes, but also, achingly sad, rather profound and so close to home I was shaken from then on, in a way that's hard to sum up in any clear sense except to say;

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on it's shoes.."
                                                                                                                Mark Twain

The Truman Show; a show, a bubble, a real life dream, a manipulation, a terrible trick, a lie, a beautiful soul who wanted to believe in love. It was a brave move The Truman Show, given the movie itself poked fun in a lot of ways, at the industry in which it could be made on such a grande scale in the first place. And that is why it meant so much, because in an ironic stroke of genius it was actually being so very truthful too. So what if? What if a very terrible bunch of brats plonked a hopeful soul in the midst of a controlled, falsely lit, manipulated for cash prizes, gravy train. What if, a selfish, self serving crew of ethically challenged ninkampoops (and a few that actually cared despite it all) made life a game in which the central character was never handed any such rule book at all to any such game? And is that, to an extent, the way of every sucker in the developed world? I'd say no. I'd say the legacy of this film is quite didactic in it's own way, without enforcing syrup over everything or telling people how to live properly.

How do we find that door? How can we think for ourselves? How can we make our own decisions?
We can. We are true. We are, all of us, filled with wanting and waiting and enjoying something that has already arrived. What advice might be given to a Truman or Trudy after the shoe that fits has been fitted and the door is a wall with a handle and the hand is that of a wonderful wizard or cloaked druidess to imagine a now and a future, to make an entrance with unusual flair? It's hard to say for sure. I'd like to give you a little spell or magic pill to make it very easy but it's not easy that often. All I can say is that there's adventure to be had, the lovers, the dreamers and me. Here's some words I wrote on the walls of a dollhouse when I was a girl, although, as you can see, I've added to them a little too. I used to make my own wallpaper you know. I used to cover the walls in words and pictures and colours. Perhaps that might help in some small way.....

Past the circus tent and the flying trapeze, past the fleas that tease in the high Pyrenese, theres a garden, a wilderness, for you, yes it's true. There's a garden, a wilderness for me and a few and everyone and everywhere.....

.....There's retreat in the seat of our marrow. Go there sometimes, most times. It might help. I'll be there, if you wish, as you wish. Eat until you've fed an idea. Make it plump. Make it plump and juicy and full until it's something real. Make some choices. But before you do, serve up question marks. Serve up commas with tea and a toasted roasted conviction to find the answers, even if you don't. Do not give up until you have tried, open eyed to the mirror of your dreams. And the world will attach itself to you and you to the world, the giver, the taker, the maker, the baker in the arms and palms of genuine soulful, soothing, delight and all of this from your head but most of all from your heart.

Love Nicla xx