BEING THERE

(December 1979, U.S.)

BEING THERE is the story of a simpleton; a grown man with the I.Q. of a child and his perception of the world and also how those around him begin to see the world through his eyes. Does this sound like a familiar 1994 Tom Hanks movie that popularized a box of chocolates?? For the record, this film was released nearly 15 years before FORREST GUMP.

BEING THERE is Peter Sellers' most (surprisingly) dramatic role after a lifetime of outrageous comedy. He plays Chance the gardner, a simple-minded man who has learned all about the world by watching constant television. Mind you, this is television of the '70's he's watching. Can you imagine what a complete idiot he'd be if he were watching too much television of today?? Just picture the mind of someone who learns about the world through the stupidity of reality TV. It's just too scary to imagine!

Anyway, back to Chance the gardner, or "Chauncey Gardner" as he's come to be misunderstood as. His personal style and seemingly conservative and insightful ways embody many qualities that many around him seem to admire. His simplistic, serious-sounding utterances, which mostly concern the growing of a garden, are interpreted as allegorical statements of deep wisdom and knowledge regarding business matters and the current state of the economy in America. Chance's remarks about how the garden changes with the seasons are interpreted by the President of the United States (played by Jack Warden) as economic and political advice, relating to his concerns about the mid-term unpopularity that many administrations face while in office. Before you know it, Chance's "words of wisdom" have influened our government and have left him a potentially rich and powerful man when he is bequeathed millions by the dying old man who took him in. Take particular note of the last scene of the film when Chance is wandering a wintery estate and walks across the surface of a small lake (???). We are finally left with a quote of "Life is a state of mind" in the background.

BEING THERE was the last Peter Sellers film to be released while he was alive. He died in July 1980.

Favorite line or dialogue:

Louise: "It's for sure a white man's world in America. Look here: I raised that boy since he was the size of a piss-ant. And I'll say right now, he never learned to read and write. No, sir. Had no brains at all. Was stuffed with rice pudding between th' ears. Shortchanged by the Lord, and dumb as a jackass. Look at him now! Yes, sir, all you've gotta be is white in America, to get whatever you want."