Being There review

 Number 281 on the top 1000 films of all time is Hal Ashby's 1979 comedy-drama 'Being There.'

Chance (Peter Sellers) has spent his whole life as gardener to a wealthy benefactor. But when his employer unexpectedly dies, the simple-minded Chance is thrust into the real world. Fortunately, he is soon taken in by the affluent Eve Rand (Shirley Maclaine) younger wife to the ailing business mogul Ben. Chance soon finds himself to be an unexpected celebrity.

This isn't my first old Hal Ashby film. I had the misfortune of watching Harold and Maude - a joyless and soulless black comedy. I thoroughly disliked it. Thankfully, that was far from the case with Being There. This was a touching and charming film with a winning performance from Peter Sellers.

I best know Peter Sellers from Stanley Kubrick's black-comedy Dr Strangelove where Sellers excelled in playing not just one, but three comedic roles. It was interesting to see whether he could do the same with a more dramatic performance, but he certainly delivered on the role.

Sellers placed Chance with a wide-eyed naivety that made him endearing to the viewer. Nowadays, we would undoubtedly throw around "autism" diagnoses, but back in the seventies, Chance was just one of life's innocents who has lived a sheltered life.

He's very much a fish out of water thrown into a world that he could never possibly recognise. But he soon forms an unlikely relationship with Eve. Sellers and Maclaine were great together. They had delightful chemistry and I enjoyed seeing them on-screen.

In some ways, Being There reminded me of Forest Gump. You had the same simple-minded but lovable protagonist who soon becomes the unlikeliest of heroes. And this was an unlikely film - quiet, funny but with the important message of remaining present and enjoying life's little moments.