American Beauty: Analysis of the opening scene...

American Beauty, director Sam Mendes 


Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey -
My first impressions of Lester was that he is a well spoken American, who lives a general family life. Throughout the beginning of the film it seems to me that there are less positive things about Lester. For example he is submissive as he is always put down by his wife and daughter. It seems, also he has a grudge against his wife, shown in the quote 'she wasn't always like this' which suggests that over the time they've been together they are slowly changing, which Lester does not like. Although he does not get on with his wife he does love his daughter and care for her - 'I wish i could tell her that's all going to pass, but i don't want to lie to her' which tells us that he feels for her and wants to be there for her. At the start of the scene Lester portraits his life as a disappointment because of the way he speaks plainly and simply; 'in some ways i already am dead'. This shows us that Lester is unhappy with his life and feels like his life has just stopped.
How Is Lester Trapped?
At the beginning scene Lester is shown in the shadows when he is in bed - like he is in a prison, and when the camera goes on to film him in the shower the camera is behind the shower to indicate that he is trapped.  When Lester is film looking out to his wife, it create an image to us that Lester is trapped in the house. The family hierarchy in this family is the mother, daughter then Lester, the father. Although normally it would be the father first then the mother and then the daughter. Lester is shown to be like the child in the family as he always being shouted at,and also he is put in the back of the car when he is going to work.
Colour is used in an interesting way, why?
Throughout the start of the film the same colours are used and noticed in each scene, such as the dull bland neutral colours to create a boring atmosphere, which could represent Lester as a boring person. The red roses are used in some scenes to create a contrast between the dull colours and the bright red which could indicate that they are important to the film. The three colours that are used used in the film as blue, red and white ; the American flag colours.
How does the music add to the film?
The music is repetitive and uncomfortable which relates the Lester's personality and the things that are happening in the scene.
What do we learn about the family?
We learn that the mother is very dominating and controlling over the family. Also that Lester and his daughter do not get on very well although Lester does try too. The family, due to the mother, seem to have an every day routine which is evidence that she is controlling. The pictures and photographs in the scene are of the family in the past which show that the family was happy before. Also the positions that the family are standing in the photos, Lester is standing like the father - the dominating one of the family.
Mise en scene and camera work.
- the dad has a poor posture; slumped
- the red roses in the centre of the table
- dull colours, neutral
- camera shots are really long, establishing the scene
- slowly zooming in on the family, like spying on them
- the daughter is in the middle of the table, which could show that the reason the Lester and his wife are still together
- the daughter is also shown in the light, and the mother and father are shown in the shadows
- when the daughter and father are being watched there is a creepy music making a creepy atmosphere
Music
diegetic sound - part of the film
non diegetic - added over the top
The repetitive music while eating - Bali Hai from South Pacific is quite an old song, which could show that the mother is old fashioned, and stuck in the past. The music in the kitchen when Lester and his daughter are talking is slow and sad which could resemble their relationship.