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| American Beauty (1990) Sam Mendes |
Sam Mendes' name is one that is highly well known within the film community - Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road, Jarhead - and he is not just the director, for he works in production also: he really is so invested in his films. Of course his most recent successes are the last two Bond films, but it was American Beauty, his filmmaking debut, that won him his Academy Award for Best Director. The film won countless others awards and received extensive nominations, proving the strength of this film. The awards and nominations were so rightfully earned: the film is a delight.
Foreshadowing is paramount from the opening frame. Unbeknownst to us we, the audience, are introduced to a significant character here. We learn quickly who the character in the frame is but the person behind the camera is unknown. When we later see more hand held footage, and finally a person behind it, we can draw the understanding that Ricky is to become a main feature as he was evidently the person behind the camera in the first scene. Further foreshadowing here is of course found in Jane's monologue in which she jokes about killing her father. It is inevitable that a death is to come, which just do not know when or who the culprit will be.
There is repetition also. We see this scene twice, along with the constant use of the colour red. The foreshadowing is relentless.
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| (Stills taken from film-grab.com) |
Of course the colour is not only symbolic of death and injury, for love is associated with red, and there is so much love within the film. There is lust but it is soon countered by compassion, old love that may seem like lost love, familial love and friendship. It is such a poignant theme through the film, making the red feel so significant. The red relates to Lester's marriage - his wife is often seen in red, along with her love of red roses. These roses are then used to symbolise Angela and it is interesting to see how the colours relevance can be altered. With Carolyn, there is the taxing relationship, suggesting red being used to symbolise anger, but with regards to Angela, the colour is symbolic of lust and desire.
An interesting point I took from looking for red in the stills was a sign.
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| WATCH YOUR STEP |
I noticed in this frame that, before any of the main narrative begins, Lester is seen at his work desk and in the back is a sign - possibly a simple office regulation sign, but nevertheless, it says "watch your step". So much is to come in Lester's life as the film develops and so this red, alarming sign seems rather significant in signposting the misfortunes to follow. It is such simple piece of detial but it is in the simple things that the most startling motifs lie.
With regard to my current project, I am also very intrigued by Ricky's character. His insistent filming of the world around him and his admiration for this documentation. While he does say "video's a poor excuse, I know" there is still this desire to film and document, even if it the most mundane of things. Like the plastic bag which "danced" and "like a little kid" begged to be played with. Its significance to my starting point of arte povera is in how there is a desire to capture something seemingly insignificant and make it into something grand.
It seems such a simple thing to select but I do believe that is what makes it seem so significant.
I want to go and explore in my own way how I can create and understand the potential beauty in things that are seemingly ordinary.
The film is very inspiring and there are a number more I would also like to look at in more depth, such as Schindler's List, especially for colour, along with others who look less significantly at this idea.
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