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Representation on Lester Burnhams - (American Beauty).


Lester Burnhams is a character in the film 'American Beauty'. He is represented as an average american man in his 40's. He is married to a women who has complete control over him. They have one child, a teenage girl. Lester works in sales and his wife works in real estate. 

Lester's job is under threat due to cuts being made. His office is a small, grey boxed shape area which suggests boredom and dullness in his life. The lines on his computer screen which we see, signifies him being trapped. 

When we see Lester lying in bed with his wife a high angled shot is used and the elevating music is played. This creates a calm atmosphere. The use of the high angled shot makes Lester seen small and unimportant, it also invites the audience into his thoughts. We see facial expressions more clearly this way.

When Lester goes into his daughters high school to watch her dance we see a different side to him. In this scene he becomes very awkward and reverts back to his teenage years, having an erotic dream about his daughters friend. These kind of thoughts wouldn't be normal behavior for a middle aged, married man. So what makes Lester Burnhams different?

His house almost represents a show home, it's extremely tidy and not homely. This could be linked to the fact that his wife is a perfectionist in real estate. The walls are very plain, dull and everything is in place. Just the way his wife likes it. When the family sit down for dinner they sit at the table with candles, silver cutlery and red roses (that are a recurring important part in the film) 

It seems as if Lester has no fun. His wife shouts at him and belittles him all the time, especially infront of his daughter who won't talk to him anyway. As well as these factors, Lester has a failing job. Life for Lester Burnhams is boring and repetitive. 

Lester is also the voice over (narrator) in the film. Therefore we build up a biased opinion on the things Lester does/says because he has made us sympathize with him in his miserable life.