By mid-November 1999 the $15 million production American Beauty (1999) by Sam Mendes had already earned $65.6 million. It won five Academy Awards and three Golden Globes and provoked a lot of discussion after its release. It presents the story of Lester Burnham who at the age of 42 realises that he has lost his joy in life. His marriage to Carolyn Burnham just lasts to keep up appearances, he cannot fulfil himself in his job and his relationship to his daughter is rather distanced and problematic, consequently he encounters himself right in a stage of midlife crisis.
Among others, it won the Award for Best Camera which is not surprising when we consider all the interesting shots and camera angles and the whole mise-en-scène. But the most eye-catching part of the composition is the contrast of colours. Whereas in nearly the whole movie we find restrained, pastel colours like white, grey, and blue as the dominant ones, for example in the interior of Lester’s house, the colour red in specific scenes is the most outstanding one. It is used for very special objects, as for the entrance of Lester’s house and the red roses that accompany every of Lester’s fantasies about Angela, a school friend of his daughter Jane.
In the following, I will show how the colour red can be understood as a symbol for Lester’s lost and newly emerging dreams.
Firstly, I will briefly demonstrate how the red entrance of his house begins to make Lester aware of his restrictedness and loss of freedom as well as the increasing disintegration of his family.
Then secondly, I will switch to the most powerful image of the movie, the red rose. It has a different meaning for Lester, depending on if it is seen with Carolyn or with Angela. Whereas with Carolyn, the roses remind Lester even more of the decay of his family and their thwarted love, the rose petals that he imagines escorting Angela are symbols of his newly emerged sexual desire. He feels engaged to change his monotonous life and the red colour accompanies his transition and reminds him of his dreams.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The red entrance
3. Red roses
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the symbolic function of the color red in the film "American Beauty" (1999) by Sam Mendes. The primary research question explores how the recurring use of the color red, particularly in the entrance of the house and in imagery involving roses, reflects the protagonist Lester Burnham's internal state, his midlife crisis, and his journey toward reclaiming forgotten dreams and sexual desires.
- Analysis of color composition and mise-en-scène in "American Beauty".
- Symbolism of the red entrance as a representation of domestic restriction and loss of freedom.
- The dual meaning of red roses in relation to the protagonist’s deteriorating marriage versus his emerging sexual fantasies.
- The relationship between the protagonist's transition and the narrative arc from life to death.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Red roses
The most frequent and eye-catching use of red is in the roses, that gave the movie its name. As commonly known, red is the colour of love and passion and combined with the image of a rose, it is a strong symbol.
As there are numerous scenes in which a bunch of roses can be seen, I want to stick to the most important ones.
The first time that the viewer is confronted with a red rose, actually a detail close-up of it, is already in the beginning, when Carolyn is presented. She grows roses in her garden and is very proud of it. Of course, a red rose is a common symbol of true love and passion, so it is rather surprising, that Carolyn is the first to be seen with a rose. But since she grows them to boast about them in front of their neighbours and later uses them as a room decoration, the known interpretation of the roses works only partly and is rather shadowy. But still the roses do connect Lester and Carolyn in a way, as he observes her with them. Although he gets “exhausted just watching her”, his voice-over narration reveals, that “she wasn’t always like this, she used to be happy. We used to be happy”. So there is a hint of the forgotten feelings between them and Lester’s dream of love, but as the rose is cut off the stalk by her, they are distanced from each other now and there is little chance of them becoming a happy couple again.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the film "American Beauty", outlines the protagonist's midlife crisis, and establishes the primary thesis regarding the symbolic use of the color red.
2. The red entrance: This section analyzes the red door of the protagonist's house as a visual marker for his restricted life, feelings of imprisonment, and the decay of his nuclear family.
3. Red roses: This chapter examines the central motif of red roses, contrasting their association with the protagonist's failed marriage against their role as symbols for his erotic fantasies and desire for change.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes how the color red guides the narrative of Lester’s transformation and his eventual death, confirming the circular nature of his journey.
5. Bibliography: This chapter lists the academic sources and film studies literature utilized for the analysis.
Keywords
American Beauty, Sam Mendes, Color symbolism, Red, Lester Burnham, Midlife crisis, Film analysis, Mise-en-scène, Roses, Cinema, Gender roles, Family disintegration, Visual motifs, Sexual desire, Fantasy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the aesthetic and symbolic function of the color red within Sam Mendes' film "American Beauty" to understand the psychological development of the protagonist.
What are the primary thematic areas?
The analysis covers themes of midlife crisis, the decay of the American nuclear family, sexual frustration, and the desire for self-actualization.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate how the color red functions as a recurring visual symbol for Lester Burnham's lost and newly emerging dreams.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The author employs a film studies approach, focusing on mise-en-scène analysis, color theory, and critical interpretation of character development and camera composition.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body is divided into two distinct analytical chapters: one focusing on the "red entrance" of the house and the second on the imagery of "red roses" in relation to the protagonist's wife and his fantasy interest.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include "American Beauty", "color symbolism", "midlife crisis", "mise-en-scène", and "fantasy".
How is the "red entrance" interpreted in the text?
The red entrance is seen as a warning sign and a representation of Lester's trapped existence, signaling his loss of freedom within the domestic sphere.
How does the author explain the shift in the symbolism of the rose?
The rose signifies the decay of love in the context of Lester’s wife, Carolyn, while it symbolizes sexual desire and an awakening of vitality in the context of his fantasies about Angela.
- Quote paper
- Stefanie Brunn (Author), 2008, American Beauty: Use of the red colour as a symbol of Lester's forgotten dreams, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118170
