Being There

A detailed Summary of Being There

"Being There" is the 1979 film adapted from the novel by Jerzy Kozinski. The movie stars Peter Sellers as a simple-minded man named Chance, who has spent all of his life isolated in a Washington, D.C. townhouse. Chance occupies himself by watching television and tending to the garden. Everything he knows about life has been learned from TV. While watching, he learns small details about interacting with people like shaking hands and verbal expressions. Chance knows what he needs to know for his daily routine: where his bedroom and bathroom are located and how to tend to the plants. He has known only two people his whole life, "the old man" and the black maid, Louise. Chance appears to be around forty-five but he has the mental capacity of a child. He is content.

As the film opens we see a mesmerized Chance watching television. His face is expressionless and his movements slow. Louise enters the room and tries to explain to Chance that the old man has died. It's not clear if he is Chance's father or his employer; we don't know anything about their relationship. When the lawyers arrive to check the estate and settle the will they are surprised to find Chance and tell him that he must leave the house. He has no money or f

Chance quickly finds himself harassed by members of a street gang, and reaches for his only means of escape by trying to switch channels on the remote control to tune the gang members out. There is also a funny scene where he approaches a black woman on the street and asks for lunch, having been conditioned by his previous life. He hasn't figured out that, outside his garden life is not television.

Benjamin is an advisor to the President of the United States and when the two men have a meeting, Rand introduces the President to his houseguest. Surprised by Chauncey's quiet unassuming manner, the President is caught off-guard by his remarks.

Eve takes Chauncey to a suite in her mansion where he is happy to find a television. After watching for awhile and then having his wound tended to by the doctor, Chauncey goes downstairs to dinner and is introduced to the powerful, but dying Benjamin Rand (Melvyn Douglas). The millionaire is quickly charmed by Chauncey and misinterprets his comments about gardening and his situation, believing him to be a small businessman who has lost his home and business through foreclosure. The Rand's invite Chauncey to stay with them until his wounds have healed and soon Ben grows to treasure his reassuring friend.

While attending a Washington party with Eve, Chauncey is offered a large advance to write a book. The anxious publisher is willing to work out a deal even though Chauncey tells him that he cannot read or write. He is also admired for his mistakenly fluent knowledge of the Russian language because he was nodding knowingly while listening to a Soviet diplomat at the party.

He is impressed with what he thinks are Chauncey's opinions of the current conditions in the nation. "As long as the roots are no

Some common words found in the essay are:
It's Chance's, Eve Chauncey, President Chauncey, Chance Christ, Washington DC, Surprised Chauncey's, Melvyn Douglas, Gardner Chance, Louise Chance, FBI CIA, watching television, remote control, garden life, benjamin rand, eve chauncey,

Approximate Word count = 1185
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English