"Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night."

When I first watched the movie Truman Show, I was amazed that it was made in 1998.

The setting seemed so realistic, as if it predicted modern society's YouTube, Instagram, reality shows, and even the camera and SNS surveillance culture that everyone carries around with their smartphones.

The protagonist Truman believes he is living in an ordinary city, but in reality, he is the star of a 'show' that is broadcast live 24 hours a day from a massive set.

In the movie Truman Show, Truman's wife Meryl is not actually his real wife but an actress.

Her role is not just as a 'wife' but also as an advertising model. Throughout the film, she unexpectedly promotes household products.

For example, even when Truman is trying to have a serious conversation, she suddenly smiles at the camera and says, "This coffee is really good, I had it this morning too!" This shows that Truman Show is not just a simple reality show but a '24-hour TV program.'

In other words, Truman's entire life is a massive product placement stage. The director was making money not only from the viewers but also from advertising revenue, and all of the wife's lines were sponsored promotional phrases.

That's why Meryl's behavior felt unnatural. The people around him, family, friends, and even his wife are all actors, and the setup that he is living without knowing is both funny and chilling.

While watching this movie, a figure naturally came to mind.

It was Princess Diana. Loved by the world for her wedding of the century, she ultimately lost her life amidst the endless gaze of the public and the obsession of the media. The confusion and fear Truman felt when he realized he was being watched were likely not so different from what Princess Diana experienced with the 'invisible cameras' of the world.

She always had to exist under someone's attention and evaluation.

Even the most private moments, such as love, divorce, and parenting, were consumed as news around the world.

The massive set in Truman Show was a reality for Princess Diana. The media edited her life like the director of that set, highlighting only certain scenes and turning her into a villain when necessary.

When Princess Diana ultimately died in a car accident while trying to escape the pursuit of paparazzi, the world was shocked, but at the same time, everyone was an accomplice to that tragedy. We turned her laughter and tears into a spectacle, consuming the 'princess's story.'

The director Christoph in Truman Show mistakenly believes himself to be 'God.' He controls Truman's life and says, "I created a world for him that is more real than reality." But the moment Truman realizes the truth and leaves the set, all that control collapses.

Strangely, when I saw that scene, I was reminded of Princess Diana's last attempt to find freedom.

Her desire to escape the royal life and live as an ordinary person, her wish to love sincerely, and her courage to break free from the gaze that used her. When Truman opens the door and steps into the outside world, he finally regains 'his life.' But at that moment, the viewers outside the screen are momentarily surprised and then quickly switch to another channel. This scene felt so realistic.

When Princess Diana passed away, the world mourned for a few days, but soon shifted its attention to another scandal and news. Ultimately, public interest is just a momentary stimulus, and how that interest destroyed a human life is quickly forgotten.

Truman Show is not just a simple sci-fi or satire; it asks all of us, 'Are you really free outside of Truman's set?' We feel intrigued by the lives of others, consume celebrities' private lives as articles, and even shake someone's emotions with anonymous comments. In that sense, modern society seems like one massive 'Truman Show' set.

However, we are both Truman and the audience, watching each other. Isn't that the reason why Princess Diana wanted to escape the world's gaze? At the end of the movie, when Truman climbs the stairs to the sky and opens the door, his expression is a complex mix of fear and freedom. Perhaps Princess Diana also reached that door.

But before she could finally step outside, she was chased away by the world's gaze. So Truman's final farewell is not just a line but perhaps a message left for Princess Diana and all of us.

"Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night."

Now we must live a real life, not someone else's show.