This Is My Life

Probably the simplest of questions but one that I found incredibly hard to answer!  Becoming a responsible adult means that we become consumed by what we should be doing, so often forgetting what we like doing.

Brain storming and some quite time got me to think about what I love and I found that a strong theme tended to run throughout what I enjoy and that's anything with some form of fantasy or chance of escapism within it.  Not in sexy, rude or unhinged way, but in the sense that I love to use my imagination and get lost within worlds that don't exist.  I love to escape into books and films that skim on the edge of reality with multi-visual impact accompanied by music soul wrenching sound to make your hair stand on end.

American Beauty(1999) - Theatrical Release Poster

American Beauty (1999), a film written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes, is based on Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, and his self reinvention through fantasy.  If you haven't seen this beautiful film before then please watch it, I guarantee that it will consume you for the full 122 minutes.    

Full of complex themes and interesting characters it drags you inside with a constant message to 'look closer' and in turn forcing you to ask questions, some that you won't be able to answer in this life time.

American Beauty - Lester Burnham at work scene.
'Look Closer', a clear message on desk.   

The story opens with Lester Burnham and his rich material suburban life, however it is his lacking emotional life that leaves him unsatisfied both at home and in work.  Trapped in a loveless marriage with Carolyn and living with his only daughter Jane, who hates him, he finds himself in a constant state of 'sedation'.  The film becomes dramatically more exciting when Lester is awoken out of his misery by his daughter's best friend Angela.  His sexual fantasies about being with Angela empowers his life and he starts to question his job, wife and relationship with his only child.





Many critics have explained and heavily debated the storyline to death.  Some believe it is about suburban imprisonment as written in a review by Berardinalli (1999), "For many, the suburban life is the American dream. For others, however, it can turn into a twisted nightmare of unfulfilled desires, repressed needs, and shattered hopes."  Revealing that painful monotomy of perfection comes at a huge depressing price.     


However, I feel that it is heavily centred around the idea of  'Looking Closer', which is the tag line for the film.  It's a statement to look beneath the smiling faces and material success and assess the people inside.  The American Rose which is used as a motif in the film is beautiful on the surface but prone to rotting roots beneath the cover of the ground.  It is a frightening understanding that perhaps people and even life is not exactly what it seems and it is this that I am compelled to investigate further.


If you do watch or have watched this film I would be very interested to know what you feel about it.
Sara.        


References

Berardinalli, J. (1999) Reelviews - American Beauty, A Movie Review by James Berardinalli (Online).  Available from http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=339 (Accessed 16/10/11).