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Being There

Name: Being There
Director: Hal Ashby
Released: 1979
Duration: 130 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Fair

1979

Director

Hal Ashby

Runtime

130 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Being There is a masterful satire that dismantles the facade of Western institutional stability. It exposes the emptiness of capitalist and political systems through the accidental rise of the protagonist. Despite its intellectual depth, the film adheres to a traditional demographic framework. It lacks meaningful racial and LGBTQ+ representation, staying rooted in a homogeneous, privileged social landscape. The film's strength lies in its cultural critique, while its weaknesses include its conventional gender and racial hierarchies.

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Category Breakdown

Does Being There have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight identities.

How does Being There portray gender?

Fair

Women in the film play important roles but often serve to highlight the protagonist's journey rather than their own.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Being There?

Minimal

The cast is predominantly white, depicting a narrow slice of affluent society without much diversity.

How does Being There represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques Western institutions and capitalism, showing how easily those in power can be misled by surface-level appearances.

Does Being There include disability representation?

Fair

The protagonist exhibits neurodivergent-coded behavior central to the plot. While it avoids sentimentalism, the characterization serves satirical needs rather than a nuanced exploration of lived experience.

Present on Screen

Offers a sophisticated critique of Western capitalism and political institutions.
Uses neurodivergent behavior as a tool for social satire.
Deconstructs the myth of meritocracy through its protagonist.

Limited or Absent

Focuses on a highly homogeneous social circle, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
Maintains traditional gender hierarchies where women often observe male-driven changes.
Does not represent or explore LGBTQ+ identities.

Official Synopsis

A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.

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