11/19/2025
**The Resonance Review**
The Greatest Showman - the film
I first watched The Greatest Showman with my children sometime around 2019, a year after its release. We were browsing for Oscar-nominated films when my son pointed to the title and asked, “Do you like the sound of this one?” I laughed and said, “That sounds like me!”—half joking, half knowing that something about it already resonated. We paid for it through our TV provider, not realizing we were about to be swept into a world of music, movement, and meaning that would stay with us long after the credits rolled.
From the very first scene, where a young Phineas Barnum dreams beyond his station, I was hooked. The choreography was electric, the songs unforgettable, and the storytelling was a balm to the soul. But what truly moved me was the film’s heart: its celebration of diversity, dignity, and joy, especially among those society often overlooks.
The film is extremely entertaining but beneath the glitter and glam lies a deeper message. Barnum’s circus becomes a sanctuary for people who are “different”—a bearded lady, a dwarf performer, a Black trapeze artist, and others who have been dehumanized and dismissed. Yet in this space, they are not just accepted, they are celebrated. Their talents, their voices, their very presence become the soul of the show. Watching them sing “This Is Me” felt like a spiritual moment: a declaration of worth, of visibility, of belonging.
I saw myself in that message. As someone who finds joy in helping others discover their own joy, regardless of how they look or how the world addresses them, I felt affirmed. The film reminded me that true greatness lies not in spectacle, but in the courage to uplift others.
But The Greatest Showman also carries a quieter, tender theme: love and loyalty. Barnum’s rise to fame tempts him to chase elite approval and distance himself from his humble beginnings. He nearly loses his family, his values, and the very people who made his dream possible. Yet the film gently insists: Don’t run from who you are. Don’t despise what you had just because you’ve found something shinier. That message hit home. It’s easy to forget our roots when success beckons, but the film reminds us that love, especially the kind that raised us, is worth holding onto.
The Greatest Showman was a mirror and a melody. It sang to my spirit, danced with my values, and whispered, "Your joy matters.”
