AMERICAN BEAUTY
Rev. by Kate 2011/5/6
Presented by：Angus, David H., David K.,
Denis, Didier, Ginger, Yvette.
Outline



Introduction: American suburbia
Starting Questions
The Adults’ Repression and Lester’s Search for a
Change







vs. Carolyn (& Buddy Kane) and Jane;
at work and
vs. Angela
Symbols
The Younger Generations
Ricky vs. Frank
Ending: the final killing
Nucleus Family and Suburban Life in America
Suburbia in the United States:
The Ideal Image of A Home: At the very beginning,
also in the end of the film, we can see the neatly lined up
houses. A perfect neighborhood, tranquil and peaceful
ambience.
Normality: On the surface every house is identical, the
shape, the silhouette, the colour of the houses, the size of
the gardens…etc. However, the interior varies so are the
different families. They encounter different obstacles,
hold different values,
but they are mostly
isolated from one another.

Starting Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How do we characterize the two families?
What does the film title “American Beauty” mean?
(e.g. chap 16)
What are the functions of cars, houses, photo and
video camera?
How are the families in this film different from
those in The Great Gatsby?
Ending: Is Lester’s love narcissistic?
Family Tree: The Burnham Family
Lester Burnham ---- Carolyn Burnham
|
Jane Burnham
Frank Fitts (United States Marine Corps Colonel) –
Barbara (a subdued and introverted wife)
-- Ricky e.g. chap 5
Carolyn Burnham (chap 3)


A real estate agent and housewife concurrently
Outside: Apparently elegant, friendly and always
smiling.
ex: Interacted with the gay neighbor.


Inside: domineering at home, overruled at work
(“Who’s the King?”) and punctilious.
ex: - She is the one who
drives car.
- Owning the command
of dinner music.
selling the image (chap 7)
Carolyn cares a lot about appearance
Quote 1.
Carolyn : Are you trying to look unattractive?
Jane: Yes.
Carolyn : Well, congratulations. You've succeeded
admirably.
 Quote 2.
【After cheerleading】
Carolyn : Honey, I'm so proud of you. I watched
you very closely, and you didn't screw up once!

Sweet home?




The setting of dinner
table is neat and
ordered.
Roses and flowers in
bottles everywhere.
Intimated melody is
played every night.
Family portraits.
About Carolyn’s Job…



To sell the beautiful fantasy and ideal image of a HOUSE.
To fulfill people’s expectation toward a house.
Quote:
- Carolyn Burnham: My company sells an image. It's part of my job to live
that image.
- Sale House Woman : The ad said this pool was lagoon-like. There's
nothing lagoon-like about it, except for the bugs. There aren't even any
plants out here!
Carolyn Burnham: What do you call this? Is this not a plant? If you have
a problem with my plants, I can always call my landscape architect!
Solved!
Carolyn’s depression from job




From “I will sell this
house today, I will sell
this house today…” to
crackup.
Slap herself and said
“shut up, shut up…”.
Self- inhibition.
The blind and the
empty room→
isolation.
Carolyn depression from home

See her husband as a loser.

Sexually frustrated from the marriage.

Mother-daughter relationship is not good, either.
Quote: Carolyn Burnham: You ungrateful little brat! Just look at
everything you have. When I was your age, we... lived in a duplex! We
didn't even have our own house!
Her release



Her success-driven character renders her the
most hopeless in the film's tone of moral
conviction.
"In order to be successful in life one must
project the appearance of success" ---Buddy
Kane.
Turned her attitude toward Buddy from respect
to servitude.
「I refuse to be a victim…」

Release her pressure
by shooting.
Quote:「I love shooting this
gun.」

﹝Man on
audiotape﹞
I refuse to be a victim
with Buddy …

Quote
- Buddy Kane: Do you like
getting nailed by the King?
Carolyn : Yes, your
majesty!
- Carolyn: That was
exactly what I needed.
The royal treatment, so to
speak.
Character: Lester Burnham


Lester Burnham is in a mid-life crisis, caused
by his stressed wife Carolyn and rebelling
teenage daughter Jane. He became obsessed
with his daughter’s best friend Angela, and
decided to change his life.
He is looked down upon by both his wife and
daughter, and he admitted that he himself is a
gigantic loser. He also thinks to alter the fact that
he Is a loser is futile. (Before meeting Angela)
Family Relations
[Lester and Carolyn are driving to the basketball game to
watch Jane's dance team gig]
Lester Burnham: Well what makes you so sure she wants
us to be there? Did she ask us to come?
Carolyn Burnham: Of course not. She doesn't want us to
know how important this is to her. But she's been practicing
her steps for weeks.
Lester Burnham: Well, I'll bet money she's going to
resent it, and I'm missing the James Bond marathon on
TNT.
Carolyn Burnham: Lester, this is important. I'm sensing
a real distance growing between you and Jane.
Lester Burnham: "Growing?" She hates me.
Carolyn Burnham: She's just willful.
Lester Burnham: She hates you too.
(Clip)
Sexually Frustrated by His Wife
-- Masturbating
Lester Burnham: Look at me, jerking off in the shower... This will be
the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
Carolyn Burnham: Don't you mess with me, mister, or I'll divorce you
so fast it'll make your head spin!
Lester Burnham: On what grounds? I'm not a drunk, I don't fuck other
women, I've never hit you, I don't mistreat you... I don't even try to
touch you since you've made it so abundantly clear how
unnecessary you consider me to be! But I did support you when you
got your license, and some people might think that entitles me to
half of what's yours. So, turn off the light when you come to bed!

Lester is inferior to his wife in many aspects. So in their
relationship Lester does not represent the phallus. He’s
physical needs and desire are not taken care of by the
other half. He does not share intimacy with his wife,
instead he masturbates himself.
Lester Burnham vs. His Wife about possessions

Lester Burnham  Carolyn Burnham
Carolyn Burnham: This is a $4,000 sofa, upholstered in Italian silk. It is
not just a couch.
Lester Burnham: [shouts] It's just a couch!
Lester: buying a dream car, working out  to regain masculinity
e.g. chap 19
Lester Burnham vs. Jane
．Considerate -- Jane
Before: He cares very much about Jane, more than he shows.
He tries to talk to her a few times but was turned down by
her. Later on he stopped being so nice to her out of
frustration.
After: Lester Burnham: You better watch yourself, Jane, or
you're going to turn into a real BITCH, just like your
MOTHER!
．
Lester

Jane
They used to be close, but drifted apart
*In the kitchen “We used to be pals”
*At the dinner table “I mean, hello you’ve barely even spoken to me for
months”
*Family pictures of them displayed everywhere in the house

Concerned a lot about Jane
*Narrating about Jane, trying to know her ”angry, insecure, confused” ”I
wish I could tell her that’s all going to pass, but I don’t want to lie to her”
*On the way to the stadium “What make sure she wants us to be
there?” ”Did she ask us to come?” ”I’ll bet she’s going to resent it”
*Asked Angela How’s Jane “Is she happy? Is she miserable” “I’d really like
to know, and she’d die before she’d ever tell me about it”
*Look at the photo (Before he died), his satisfied peaceful smile
*The flashback of his life at the moment he died, he saw Jane a lot of
times Her importance in his mind
Lester

Jane
Trying hard to make up, but always ended
up badly
*At the dinner table, asked her how was her school
Received coldness( short and heartless answer)
*To get her attention by being humorous ”What do you
expect? You can’t all the sudden be my best friend just because you had
a bad day”
*In the kitchen (After dinner) feel sorry about the
distance, apologized to her Received coldness (Jane
walked away)
*In the Kitchen (In the morning) “You’d better watch out Janie,
or you’re going turn into a
real bitch just like your mother”
Nostalgic (Need a change)



(clip)
Lester Burnham: When I was your age, I flipped
burgers all summer just to be able to buy an eighttrack.
Ricky Fitts: That sucks.
Lester Burnham: No, actually it was great. All I did
was party and get laid. I had my whole life ahead of
me.
Lester goes on a few nostalgia trips during
the film. It shows that he precious the old
good times he shared with his family. The last
flash back is the most pronounced, vivid
evidence. The images of Jane and Carolyn
(back then) are what he cherished the most.
Lester : opting for a change
Personal Hero
*Quit his job very carelessly and mindlessly (Confident)

Catering Boss: I'm not paying you to do... whatever it is you're doing
out here.
Ricky Fitts: Fine. So don't pay me.
Catering Boss: Excuse me?
Ricky Fitts: I quit. So you don't have to pay me. Now leave me alone.
Catering Boss: ...asshole.
Lester Burnham: I think you just became my personal hero!
*Drug dealing with denial and courage Ricky Fitts: “My dad thinks
I pay for all this with catering jobs. Never underestimate the power of
denial”


Purchase drugs from Ricky
Reminder of his past and youth
*Pink Floyd (While buying drugs from him)
Lester Burnham: When I was your age, I flipped burgers all summer
just to be able to buy an eight-track.
Ricky Fitts: That sucks.
Lester Burnham: No, actually it was great. All I did was party and get
laid. I had my whole life ahead of me.
Lester Burnham at Work 
Brad Dupree and Smiley Manager



Lester is intelligent and eloquent. He does not pursue a material
life, his values toward materials effects his career life and
attitude. He is not fussy about jobs, as long as he gets paid. From
his previous working experience we can tell that he does not
want to lie to people (what he thinks about the advertisement
company.)
Insert 2 clips
Brad Dupree: [reading Lester's job description] "My job
consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in
charge, and, at least once a day, retiring to the men's room so I
can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesn't so closely
resemble Hell." Well, you have absolutely no interest in saving
yourself.
Lester Burnham: Brad, for 14 years I've been a whore for the
advertising industry. The only way I could save myself now is if I
start firebombing.

Mr. Smiley's Manager: I don't think you'd fit
in here.
Lester Burnham: I have fast food experience.
Mr. Smiley's Manager: Yeah, like twenty
years ago!
Lester Burnham: Well, I'm sure there have
been amazing technological advances in the
industry, but surely you must have some sort of
training program. It seems unfair to presume I
won't be able to learn.
Opting for a Change …
-
-
Working out, playing music out loud in the
garage.
Buying the car he always dreamed of:
Carolyn Burnham: Uh, whose car is that out front?
Lester Burnham: Mine. 1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I've
always wanted and now I have it. I rule! (Clip?)
Lester Burnham  Buddy Kane


[Carolyn is introducing Lester to the Real Estate King]
Carolyn Burnham: My husband, Lester.
Buddy Kane: It's a pleasure.
Lester Burnham: Oh, we've met before, actually. This thing last year,
Christmas at the Sheraton...
Buddy Kane: [pretends to remember] Oh yeah, yes...
Lester Burnham: It's OK, I wouldn't remember me either.
Carolyn Burnham: [laughs nervously] Honey, don't be weird.
Lester Burnham: OK honey, I won't be weird. I'll be whatever what you
want me to be.
[Lester kisses Carolyn wildly, then looks at the Real Estate King]
Lester Burnham: We have a very healthy relationship.
(clip1, 2- At the Smiley’s)
Lester vs. Buddy Kane -- The kiss is intended to clarify that Carolyn is
His Wife, and make sure that Kane draws a clear line between them.
Lester Burnham  Angela
Lester’s relationship with Angela can be interpreted differently.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lester sees her as his daughter’s best friend. The love that he
wants to give to his daughter was turned down. So he turned
this love for his daughter to her best friend, which is the closest
person to her (from Lester’s point of view.)
Lester sees Angela as a new target of life. An alternative to his
static live style. A challenge and a desire he closely developed in
his reveries.
He knows that Angela fancies him to some degree, and he
thinks if Angela accepts him, Jane will do the same.
Pure sexual desire. Out of fascination and helplessness.
Chap 5: For years I was like being in a coma, and now I am awake…
(Lying on the bed, with Angela on the ceiling covered with roses)
LESTER BURNHAM
Repression
Work Doing stuff he doesn’t
like
 Too honest and ordinary to
be neglected (didn’t get
promoted to the place he
deserved)
"My job consists of basically masking
my contempt for the assholes in
charge,”
“for 14 years I've been a whore for the
advertising industry”
Family Being looked down upon
by his wife and daughter
“I am sick and tired of being treated
like I don't exist. You two do whatever
you want, whenever you want to do it,
and I don't complain. ”
Methods of Self-Liberation
Jerk off in the shower and the
men’s room
“and, at least once a day, retiring to the
men's room so I can jerk off while I fantasize
about a life that doesn't so closely resemble
Hell."
Talk back to his boss and wife
The only way I could save myself now is if I
start firebombing.
[Lester throws the asparagus plate at the
wall] Don't interrupt me, honey!
“Oh, yeah, and one more thing, from now on
we're going to have alternate dinner music
because frankly - and I don't think I'm alone
here“ “I'm tired of this Lawrence Welk shit!”
Quit his job
Singing LOUD in the car
Get high Listen to Rock
music, Smoke weed
Fantasizes about Angela
SYMBOLS
Rose, Window and Camera/Photo
Symbols: The Roses, Windows and Family Portraits
Roses: The symbol that interweaved the film
Chap 5: In Lester’s imaginary world, Angela is always covered with roses.
Roses stands for sexual lust and is the commonly used to represent
beauty.
Roses come out flying from Angela’s breasts.
Roses dropped from the ceiling where Angela lie looking down at him on
his bed.
Chap Angela taking a hot bath filled with roses.
Chap 9: Lester imagined Angela touching him, and pull out a pedal from
his own mouth.
Here the rose pedal is produced by Lester himself.
 The roses planted by Carolyn
Windows:
- Lester is trapped inside the building. American’s weirdest
home video.
- For instance: Through Ricky Fitts’ camera, we see Lester
working out behind the window. The shadows of the bars on
the windows cast on Lester’s body like he was caged within it.
Family Portraits
The photos of Burnham family appears very often through
out the film.
The family, as the photo frame that bound the three of
them together. The smiles in the photos shows the time
that they used to be happy, and enjoy each other’s
company. That is the reason of Lester’s frequent flash
backs. And the solid evidence of how much he cherishes
his time with Carolyn and Jane. The ending part clip*
THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS
IN SEARCH OF IDENTITIES
AND LOVE
Jane vs Angela

Angela –apparently stronger than Jane.
 Pretty
outside
 Weak and lie about her sexual experience
 Angela—yearns to be desired, hates to be “ordinary.”

Jane – unsure about herself

“You’ll never be a freak ‘cause you’re just too perfect!”
[01:38:14]
Repression of Jane





Only child
Family problem
Lack of self-confidence
Contradictions
Love and hate
How Jane releases her desire







Took off her cloth
A beauty and pure heart
Had a fight with Angela
“I’m no more a kid than you are.”
“She’s someone you use to feel better about yourself.”
[01:37:55]
Plan to run away with Ricky
To cast her shell
The Younger Generation
Jane active
Jane actively using the video
Lester
Frank
To Lester, Frank is a serious controlling person
*They greeted each other Frank didn’t react much
*Buying drugs from Ricky knew him collecting his son’s
urine
 Shocked to see Frank’s confession
 Killed by Frank
 Their relationship was dramatic :
normal neighborhood sudden affectionate
confession tragic death end

Collapsed again after getting caught…
Quote:
Janine: You’re so busted.
Carolyn: You know, this really doesn’t concern
you.
 Clip 【1:26:48 to 1:29:30】

Isolation of Jane
Family dinner
Friends
Admires Angela
Meaningless
Superficial
Vanity
Sense of lack






Love
Family
“I need a father who’s a role model.”
Friend
Romantic
Meaning and beauty of life
External or internal





First meet Ricky in school
Angela “And why he dress like a Bible salesman?”
Jane “He’s, like, so confident.” [28:53]
Filming the dead bird
Angela “I think you forget your medication today,
mental boy.” [54:57]
Jane vs Ricky



Low self-confident vs high self-confident
Lover and a tutor
Jane “It’s weird watching myself. I don’t like how I look.”
Ricky “I can’t believe you don’t know how beautiful you
are.” [01:18:13]

They said eyes are the window of soul
Jane vs Lester





Nearly broken relation
Lester don’t care about her heart
Jane loves him
Jane hates him
Lester “Jane’s a pretty typical teenager: angry,
insecure, confused.” [03:27]


Jane “Someone really should
just put him out of his misery.”
[00:46]
Jane vs Carolyn


Closer than Lester
Carolyn: does not understand her
“I watched you very closely. You didn’t screw up once.”
[18:00]
Superficial comment
“You cannot count on anyone except
yourself.”
“You ungrateful little brat!”
Wrong way of teaching and
being a model.
RICKY VS. FRANK
Ricky’s Background
Childhood：being sent to the hospital
“he would always save the most random, weird things” 00:27
Family ：strict dad and wordless mom
- smoking dope & selling drugs  having a respectable job
- the discipline father (military background)
- the “careless” mother (hasn’t known Ricky didn’t eating bacon for years)
Repression & Isolation ?

Accept the truth
~ Never underestimate the power of denial. (00:10:05)
EX.

Enjoy the beauty
~ Sometimes there's so much…beauty…in the world.
EX.
Definition of Beauty
Through the Digital Video
- plastic bag
- dead stuffs
(bird, homeless woman, and Lester)

~ Ricky: When you see something like that, it's like God is looking right at you, just
for a second, and if you're careful, you can look right back…
Jane:
And what do you see?
Ricky: Beauty.
Beauty
~ compare with other characters ~
Carolyn & Bobby  Success
Angela & Ricky’s dad  Perfection
Ricky’s mom  Obedience
(Death Living)
---------------------------------------------------------------Ricky  Seize the beauty
~ Sometimes there's so much…beauty…
in the world .I feel like I can't take it...
and my heart...is just going to…cave in.
(Alive
Living)
Understand Desire and Weakness
Ricky  Angela
[you're boring, and you're totally ordinary]
Ricky  Ricky’s dad
[What a sad…old man you are.]
Ricky  Jane
[You'd rather he had the crush on you.]
Frank Fitts






Used to be a Colonel in the
military
Believes in extreme forms of
discipline
Has Decidedly off-putting
personal habits
Tend to demand and control
the people around him
Angry, bitter and rude
A deeply homophobia
Isolation

Interaction of Family
members
A. In the dining room
- The reaction to the
doorbell
B. In the living room
1. No conversation
2. Silence
3. Awkward
Isolation

Relationship with people
A. Reaction to people he
doesn’t know
1. Passive attitude
2. Unfriendly and hostile
B. How he introduce
himself
1. Address himself with title
2. Colonel Frank Fitts, US
Marine Corps
Isolation

His past and role
A. A typical father
1. Strict
2. Undeniable
3. Respectable
B. A Colonel
1. Tough
2. Manly
3. Proud
Repression

As a Colonel
• Stayed in high
demanding position
• Dominate the
situation
• Used to be
• As a father he
wants to be
• Be caring
• Have close fatherson relation
• Express his love
• A typical father
• Definite authority
• Power of controlling
family
• Ricky’s Father
Repression
• Normality



Heterosexuality
Have a perfect
family
Man should be
tough and
masculine
• Abnormality
• Homosexuality
• Immorality
• Have a drugaddicted son
• Rebellion
What a sad old man
Release

Leister’s answer of
marriage
A. Sense of empathy
B. Self-identification
• His smile and the kiss
Quotes
Frank: “Your wife is with another man,
and...you don’t care?”
Leister: “Nope, our marriage is just for
show, a commercial for how normal
we are.”
Conflicts









The Fights
Feel be exposed
Feel naked
Feel shame
Feel guilt
The Gun Shot
Sense of shame
Sense of guilt
Sense of control
•
•
•
•
Symbols
Locked Closet
Nazi Plate
Gun collection
Psychoanalysis
•
•
•
•



Superego
Morality
Typical father
Role of a Colonel
Id
Desire of Homosexuality
Father love
Discipline, Rules and Dignity
• Ego
• Compromise
• Pretending
• Hostile to
outside
Ending: Who’s murderer?





Carolyn’s unconsciousness?
She is not intended want to shoot Lester.
phallus vs. be phallus
The gun is for demonstrating her supremacy,
but not for murdering.
Her regret and mourning.