Being There (1979) (nat)

I'd read this book a few years ago for one of Dr. Cowart's classes. The book is better. Both are about Chance, a man who is just not there mentally. It's never really established whether he is retarded--he's functional but just doesn't get anything at all. He mimics things he's seen on TV--he "likes to watch" (and, yes, that phrase gets him into some interesting sexual situations). Regardless, he's been raised by the "Old Man" and Louise, the Old Man's black maid and has worked in the garden of the house. The Old Man dies as old men are wont to do and Chance is left by himself (Chance is 50-ish at this point). Louise tells him that she's closing up the house and leaving but Chance just doesn't get it and stays until the Old Man's lawyers find him and kick him out. He's left to wander the street's of DC, thinking every black woman could bring him lunch (he asks very politely) and that the black kids could find him a garden to work in. While being amazed at himself on TV in a store window, he's hit by Eve Rand's car, slightly injured, and swept away to her humongous house (The Biltmore--which is supposed to be in a populated area of DC) all while she insists his name must be Chauncey Gardiner (to "what is your name" he replied "Chance the Gardener"). Eve's politically powerful husband is dying (she's not as old as he is) and both take a liking to Chance--thinking he's spouting metaphorical truths about business and economics as he talks about "working the garden." This continues in scope so much so that the President (of the US) is quoting him in speeches, the CIA and FBI are accused of shredding his files when no trace of his identity is found, the Russians take an interest in him and his "philosophy." The movie keeps this going as Eve's husband dies and leaves Chance to take over his powerful financial business--Chance then walks on water--I'm not speaking figuratively, that's the end, he walks on water.

Yeah. So the book deals with all of this much better and is more of a commentary on the "videots" who believe all they see on TV--mocking those who are wholly convinced of Chance's genius. He does not walk on water at the end. The book's end makes sense and doesn't make Chance Jesus. I'd suggest reading the book rather than watching the movie . . .