BEING THERE (1979) In the 1980s the political pendulum had swung back to conservatism and self-serving policies after a decade and a half of radicalism and protest. Ronald Reagan was in the White House, and simplistic American ideals dominated. It was into this straight-laced milieu that Jerzy Kosinski launched his novel Being There about American values. It became a best-seller, and a film of the book followed (directed by Hal Ashby). Kosinski’s Jewish childhood had been spent in Poland during World War II, and he had evaded capture by the Germans by posing as a Catholic with the help of some Catholic friends. He later emigrated to America, where he became a well-known author and political commentator. But his view of American society always remained objective and uncluttered by the insularity that had long been a feature of American navel-gazing. Being There is an allegorical tale about a simple man named Chance (Peter Sellers in his last and best role before his death), who works as a gardener. Chance’s view of the world is moulded entirely by two things: his garden and the television programs he watches constantly in his spare time. When his employer dies, he is relegated to the street with no life skills except an ability to tend garden and no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from the television. After a chance encounter (pun intended), Chance ends up a guest of Eve (Shirley MacLean) and her husband Ben (Melvyn Douglas), a rich but ailing businessman. They are deeply impressed by his naive TV-informed utterances and generalizations, believing them to be profoundly intelligent, metaphorically-deep, and wisely insightful. Only the staff in Ben’s house – poor, working-class, and black – can really see through to the inner man, the naïf. Ben and Eve introduce Chance to their influential circle of friends. In due course, he becomes a well-known public intellectual, and a political advisor to the rich and powerful, including President “Bobby” (Jack Warden), who takes to calling on him frequently for advice. Perhaps the best line in the movie comes when Chance is wandering in the garden with President Bobby, chattering aimlessly. Chance comments in his usual inane manner: “In the garden growth has its seasons. First comes Spring and Summer, but then we have Fall and Winter. And then we get Spring and Summer again.” A knowing look comes to the President’s eye, and he responds: “I think what our insightful friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we’re upset by the seasons of our economy.” The President beams. “I admire your good solid sense. That’s precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.” Chance’s popularity leads to talk-show appearances, insider parties, book publisher advances, and the ultimate American success story: the possibility of becoming a presidential candidate himself. The parallels with Ronald Reagan and later Republican presidents abound. Indeed, one cannot help but be reminded of the all-powerful Religious Right of American politics and those great words of George W. Bush: “They misunderestimated me”. The final scene of Chance walking on water across a wintry lake is the ultimate comment on the superficiality and artlessness of America’s view of itself. A superb movie.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 22:23:06 +0000
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