Being There
Being There
After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.
Desmond Dale reviewedJanuary 24, 2025
The writing is so nuanced and full of layers that unfold like a life mantra hidden in the margins of a comic strip. Peter Sellers is magical, playing a character who appears naive and dumb and yet possesses a youthful optimistic worldview. He seems to have retained a sense of wonder and amazement that most lose in the transition to adulthood.
The writing is so tight that at times you can't tell if maybe the character is actually aware of his genius or if he's simply the world's greatest dunce. And it's unafraid to utilize its folklorish character to poke fun at racism, classism and the injustices that come from living in such an oligarchy. And as a result it comes away feeling both sentimental and upbeat and socially aware.