Representation of Lester Burnham

The character who I am studying is Lester Burnham, the main character in the film 'American Beauty'.


When writing this piece I had to consider the Sound, Editing, Camerawork and Mise en scene.



From the beginning the first impression I was given of Lester Burnham Is his discontent for his life, this is illustrated by the negative narration/voiceover, his poor posture 'when seated in the back of the car' and his unhappiness with his wife. Another contributor to him disliking his life is the 'role reversal' in his family, his wife appears to have taken the fatherly role in the family (Waiting to drive him to work/More importantly dressed/Earns more money?) and his daughter has taken the passenger seat in the car which is traditionally reserved for the drivers partner. Lester is then cast into the back seat where he slouches like a teenager who doesn't want to be going to school.


Furthermore another example is his dislike fore his wife who he describes in the voiceover in a negative manner, this gives the impression of a loveless/sexless marriage which is supported by him jerking off in the shower (Highlight of his day).


In addition the film supports a semantic field of a Lester's life being a prisoner, this is illustrated in the shower scene, when he looks out from the window at his wife socialising with the neighbours and on the reflection in the computer screen.


When talking about Lester's life, the background is a dull, monotonous tone which fits in with boredom of his everyday life. The mise en scene is dull and boring also as his room in the opening scene is beige and his office is a dull blue. The colour scheme is red, white and blue which runs throughout the film, this illustrates an average Americans life.