Drama Film: American Beauty, Essay Example

American Beauty is a drama film that describes personal satisfaction and notions of beauty. It explores romance and paternal love, beauty, sexuality, self-liberation, redemption, and materialism. Most of these themes are explored when Jane is in the school gymnasium with other members of the cheerleading team. She keeps on wondering why her parents cannot settle for their personals lives and let her make personal decisions. Mendes, the person behind the camera work, said that cameras in this scene were cut away when Jane left the spot she was sitting in the gymnasium. This was done to contrast the scene inside the gymnasium where the tone was low to the outside where there was jubilation and celebration during the basketball game. Mendes describes this type of filming as “kinetic and off-balance footage.”

In the scene of the game, the audience is diverse. It includes; the game players, the cheerleading team, Jane’s parents, and other spectators. The theme of sexuality is brought about by Lester and Angela. The lighting of this scene is bright. The cheerleaders are all dressed in bright and matching uniform, which complements their choreographed dancing moves during half time. Additionally, the spectators are also brightly dressed in team’s jersey and waving posters to add color to the scene. Before the end of the game, there is a sudden change of theme when Angela realizes that Lester is stalking her. As they curdle closely, bright red petals of roses streams from underneath the cloth. Unlike in the previous where music was loud, the music is soft and lighting is pale to create a romantic scene. Suddenly, they realize that the game is still on and pull back. The footage has impulsive change of scenes to interlink the film to reality.