American Beauty is a satire on American society. The society is portrayed as being ideal and living in a utopia. This film deals with the flaws and hidden secrets that many families within these 'perfect' societies are hiding. Two families in the film portray to us their hidden secrets and flaws. The central theme in this film is the phoniness and to question our perception of beauty. Appearance versus reality is a key theme, which is backed up even more by a symbol, the American rose. This rose indicates outer beauty and perfection. It also is a symbol of deflowering, which is a loss of innocence through loss of virginity. .
The opening of the film is a flash-forward to something that will happen in the film. The suburban area in which these families live is shown from an aerial view to establish a setting. The beginning of the film shows us exactly what a day in the life of Lester is like. He is shown from a high-angle on his bed and this angle shows us his typical boring morning. The music in the background is monotonous just like Lester's dull and boring life and Lester says "I'm dead already,"" to emphasize how boring and dull life is. Lester is shown in the shower masturbating, using an extreme close-up and this indicates tediousness. This close-shot helps the viewer identify with Lester and his character. .
A close-shot on the main symbol of the film, the rose is shown. Carolyn, best represents the rose. She is wearing colour-coded clothing and striving for perfection. Lester is shown behind bars to suggest a sense of confinement with no escape. Lester is trapped in his marriage and in life in general. Little picket fences are shown surrounding the perfect little American gardens. Lester again is shown behind bars and then an over shoulder shot is taken to show Lester's perspective of the situation. Carolyn is talking to their neighbors and is overly friendly and false when she speaks with them.