Being There

Main Plot

"Being There," directed by Hal Ashby, follows the story of Chance, a simple-minded gardener who has spent his entire life isolated in a wealthy man's estate, with his only knowledge of the world coming from television. When his benefactor dies, Chance is thrust into the outside world for the first time. Through a series of misunderstandings, he is taken in by a wealthy and influential couple, who mistake his simplistic statements about gardening for profound political insights. As Chance navigates high society, his childlike demeanor and television-inspired wisdom lead others to project their own interpretations onto him, elevating him to an unlikely position of influence. The film explores themes of media influence, identity, and the nature of perception, offering a satirical look at how society can misconstrue simplicity as genius.

Characters

• Peter Sellers plays Chance, a simple-minded gardener whose naive comments are mistaken for profound wisdom, leading him to influence powerful political figures.
• Shirley MacLaine plays Eve Rand, a wealthy woman who befriends the protagonist, Chance, and helps elevate his status in society through her influential connections.
• Melvyn Douglas plays Benjamin Rand, a powerful businessman who mentors Chance, mistakenly believing him to be a wise political advisor, significantly influencing the plot's development.

Ending Explained

In the concluding scenes of Hal Ashby's film "Being There," the protagonist, Chance the gardener, portrayed by Peter Sellers, attends the funeral of the wealthy and influential Ben Rand. Throughout the film, Chance, a simple-minded man whose knowledge is limited to what he has seen on television, is mistaken for a wise and insightful political advisor. At the funeral, powerful figures discuss the possibility of nominating Chance for the presidency, believing his simplistic gardening metaphors to be profound economic and political insights. The film's final moments are particularly enigmatic and symbolic. As the funeral proceedings continue, Chance wanders away from the crowd and walks across a lake. Miraculously, he does not sink but walks on water, pausing to dip his umbrella into the lake as if testing its depth. This surreal and ambiguous ending suggests multiple interpretations, including the idea that Chance's innocence and simplicity elevate him above the complexities and corruptions of the world around him. The film closes with a quote from Rand's eulogy: "Life is a state of mind," reinforcing the theme of perception versus reality.