Holding Still

Although Janis has been living in Seaside for 20 years and most people know her name, she describes herself as an ‘invisible person’ - she lives there, but doesn’t really participate in day-to-day community life. Janis was involved in a tragic accident at the age of 22, which left her paralyzed. Since then she has rarely left her bed - a fact that she herself can barely explain. Rather than using a wheelchair to get around Seaside or her own house, she lies in bed and observes the world through a surveillance camera connected to her laptop. Through the camera, Janis can observe everything that would otherwise remain hidden to her: her living room, her kitchen and especially life outside her front door. Since Janis can’t be part of the world around her, she brings a piece of that world into her own little kingdom. The film gives an insight into Janis Sawyer’s universe, depicting Seaside, the location of the film „The Truman Show“, through the eyes of one of its only permanent residents.