American Beauty centers around Lester Burnham, a forty year old man estranged from both his wife and daughter. Bored with his life and routine, Lester finds refuge, if not excitement, from a crush on his daughter’s teenage friend. He enters a sort of meditation, similar to the main character in “Office Space.” This break from the mundane routine of his life allows him to see beauty in everyday experiences. It also separates him from the troubles and worries that come with those stuck in the profane. His acceptance of this newfound worldview reminded me of the same transition Phil goes through in “Groundhog Day.” However, unlike Phil, Lester becomes entirely self-centered, partaking in activities that only gives him pleasure
Throughout the film, the theme of beauty and what it consists of. When Lester’s daughter begins to date a young filmmaker, she is intrigued by his continuous search for beauty. When Ricky tells Jane, Lester’s daughter, why he would ever film a dead homeless woman he responds, “Because it’s amazing. 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 see right back.” Jane responds, “And what do you see?” Ricky says, “Beauty.”
This approach to death as something beautiful and even liberating reminds me of Block’s wife in “The Seventh Seal.” Rather than viewing death as something to fear and avoid, both Ricky and the wife embrace and even welcome death. Moreover, Ricky and Lester are able to find beauty, or meaning, in the everyday chaos of life. However, most of the characters are unable to see the beauty of the mundane and consequently miss it. This film excellently demonstrates the overarching beauty that comes with everyday life and the importance of noticing and enjoying it.
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