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Being There
1979 130 min United States of America PG 0+
★8.5
Comedy, Drama
Director: Hal Ashby
🎭 Based on
«Being There»
byJerzy Kosiński
Trailers
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Description
A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
US Gross:
$30.18M
Worldwide:
$30.18M
Starring
Peter Sellers
Actor
Shirley MacLaine
Actor
Melvyn Douglas
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1980
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 1981
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Supporting Actor
Cannes Film Festival 1980
— Palme d'Or
BAFTA 1981
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
BAFTA 1981
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1981
— Best Actor
BAFTA 1981
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Screenplay
Key opinion
Being There is a celebrated satirical parable that explores the gullibility of modern society through the lens of a simple-minded gardener mistaken for a genius. While the film is widely praised for its philosophical depth and understated brilliance, some viewers find its deliberate, slow-moving nature and surreal conclusion challenging or polarizing.
| Acting | Peter Sellers delivers a masterfully restrained and charismatic performance that serves as the film's vital anchor. | |
| Theme | The script functions as a sharp, cynical satire on how political and social elites project their own empty desires onto a blank-slate protagonist. | |
| Pacing | The film's slow, contemplative tempo is immersive for those seeking a thoughtful experience, but alienating for viewers who prefer fast-paced storytelling. | |
| Ending | The surreal, ambiguous ending is viewed by many as a perfect, profound culmination of its allegorical themes, while others find the imagery awkward or overly abstract. | |
| Score | The musical score is criticized by some for being thin, uninspired, and overly reliant on recycled classical compositions. |