The American Beauty Film/Movie
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The main theme of materialism has been conveyed well in the movie through the Burnhams dream about America. She aspires for well paying jobs, nice residential houses, stable family, and at least two family cars. The Burnhams is referred by the film website as “trapped by the ideology of the American dream” (structural, 2002). She is obsessed with wealth and the perception of other people on material possessions. According to her, success is achieved when one is wealthy. When Lester attempted to kiss her on the couch and accidently almost spilled the beer on the couch, Burnham appears so sensitive with her couch. She challenges Lester not to underestimate the value of the couch as it cost her $4,000. Burnhams is also seen fighting with Jane, her daughter where she claims that Jane does not value or appreciate what Burnhams owns in terms of wealth. What Burnhams fails to understand is that her daughter needs love and attention from her mother more than the material possessions.
Through the theme of materialism, all the characters have also conveyed the theme of appearance versus reality through their unhappiness, which suggest illusion. Burnhams attempts to achieve happiness through her job as an agent in the estate. She is shown slapping herself angrily after failing to sell a house. Angela, though envied by other teens is characterized by low self-esteem (structural, 2002). She is gorgeous but inside she is torn. She regards others as plain, which according to her is her true defect. Colonel is portrayed as a man who abhors homosexuality and let others know that. He believes Lester and his son are having an affair but when Colonel visits Lester, it is evident from the manner he kisses him that he is also a latent homosexual.
The theme of denial is evident where colonel denies homosexuality despite being involved in it. Burnhams cannot accept that her relationship with her daughter and husband is insincere and that both her material wealth and career do not give her the satisfaction she would want. Angela also denies her insecurity and a feeling of not being desired as well as not gorgeous and lashes out at others.
The theme of loneliness is clear in the film where most characters appear alone in the film. For instance, both Angela and Jane are portrayed in the mirror each of them alone at different times while Lester appears in the shower, car, and garage. Burnhams is also seen alone in the job and car. The loneliness is caused by emotional problems the characters are going through when they fail to connect with others.
The title of the film, American beauty gives the intended message. Most of the things portrayed as beauty in America are usually not. For example, Angela is portrayed as a young cute and perfect girl, model to others and a cheerleader while she is actually hostile and cold. Jane on the other hand is caring and beautiful despite being not so thin and lively making beauty in the film an illusion. Burnhams has an ugly character despite being successful, which is portrayed as beauty in the film. The title American beauty suggest search for beauty that is evident when Lester attempts to restore the beauty he ones experienced by going back to his smoking habit, getting attracted to a teenager and playing old music that was favorites to many people in the seventies.
Ricky does not fail to find beauty in anything he comes across especially his camera and the plastic bag blown by the wind indicating beautiful energy in every dimension of life. The bag symbolizes miracles that are experienced daily but are overlooked (structural 2002). Burnhams is seen cutting roses, which symbolizes passion in her life.
The film does not end without some problems experienced. The dead Lester is seen to have led a happy stupid life, which was great for him. The ending suggest to people to be grateful for their lives. However, most experiences in the film were not great enough for the characters to appreciate. The film would have been great if it portrayed Lester being grateful for the opportunity to feel alive once more. The film should also have portrayed that there was love for his spouse and daughter and willingness in guiding them in his ways or something related to his feeling of being youthful and full of passion at all the time, which is how I benefitted from the film. I felt a bit troubled by Ricky’s use of camera to search for beauty because it is not clear why this medium is important. The medium seems misplaced in the film because it diverts attention from the important things.
Generally, the film American beauty has themes that are well conveyed through its characters and the plot used. The important message about being positive and honest in life was well communicated in the film. All characters are searching for happiness and better relationship with others. Another important message is that rue beauty can make one happy. The message of acceptance is also well conveyed through acceptance of homosexuals. From the film, I understand the importance of joy and love for other people. The film shows how one can mistake beauty for ugliness and fail to find it altogether in life.