American beauty

In the critically acclaimed film directed by Sam Mendez and written byAlan Ball, American Beauty  tells a story of the facade of a suburban American family losing themselves, ironically, in search of themselves. Music and sound play a major role in the film in constructing character perspectives and revealing raw emotions, both in which help the audience interpret and connect with the film. Sound in film can be generally categorized in two: diegetic sound, sounds that can be heard by both the characters and audience, like dialogue and source music ; and non-diegetic sounds, sounds that are heard by the audience but not the characters with in the film, typically background music and voice overs. An example of diegetic sounds being the dinner scene after Lester quits his job, the family sits together and eats, much like the first dinner scene, the use of silence communicates the awkwardness and lack of connection that exists with in the house hold. However, this time around much more dialogue is present, Lester is arguing with Carolyn and as the argument becomes more and more heated, Carolyn speak with herself interrupted by Lester's yells, something that's happening for the first time in the film. Carolyn's speaking in third person and answering to herself emphasizes her stress and desperation while Lester for the first time feels in control and empowered, both vocally and physically; through all the chaos Carolyn's classy, romantic tunes still play in the background as always, but this time Lester actually voices out his anger and mocks it. After Lester meets Angela and he feels the sparks of being young again, he begins to work out; one non-diegetic music score sticks with him. An upbeat, xylophone-like sound that plays whether he's lifting weights in the garage or running in the neighborhood. Lester himself isn't aware of this music but its clear to the audience that he is on his way from the coward, middle aged man to becoming self-empowered. One sound sticks out to the audience more than any sound or song in the film: the non-diegetic atonal sounds that play during two scenes of where Lester fantasizes about Angela. The first scene being close up crosscuts of Lester and Angela in the gymnasium and she begins to strip off her jacket, revealing her body but roses fly out and covers her breasts; the second scene is the bathroom scene where Angela baths in a tub completely full of rose petals. Atonal sounds are sounds that are off key, not easy to listen to, and often harsh to the ears, both scenes intend to make the audience very uncomfortable, accompanied with atonal chimes, both the content and music make the scene cringe-worthy.

The use of music in this film not only help set the tone and theme for the characters, it also help the audience further understand and connect with the character's emotional state. Every song used in the film was thoroughly examined and picked out to be best fit and representation of a certain character during a certain development. During the first dinner scene, the long shot shows the family eating together, at first sight the scene gives off awkward tension; Lester tries to make conversation but fails Carolyn is pushy and harsh,  and Jane is the typical rebel teen daughter complaining about her mother's taste in music,  Peggy Lee's Bali Ha'I . 

"Here am I your special islandCome to me...Come to me Your own special hopes, your own special dreams Bloom on the hillside and shine in the streams If you try, you'll find me" 

Although Carolyn puts up a front of a strong willed women that supports the family and authority figure of the household, her taste in musics gives away the sensitive side of her away. The lyrics reveal her desire for love and emotional connection, reaching out to Lester in her own unique way.

Lester on the other hand, is becoming more and more distant as he lusts over Angela. In one scene right after Lester quits his job and drives to get a burger at his teenage workplace, he sings along to American Women by The Guess who.

"I don't wanna see your face no more. I got more important things to do. Than spend my time growin' old with you."

American women represent everything dull, old and ordinary in Lester's life, including his wife. He's high on his new profound love(or rather lust) over young and beautiful Angela, the thrill of getting in touch with his youth, and finally having the courage to stand for himself and do what makes him happy. However, every high must come down; in the scene of a bird eye view of the neighborhood, Lester runs out the door and his own commentary of "Remember those posters that said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life"? Well, that's true of every day but one - the day you die." fades in the The Seeker by The Who.

“I’m looking for me. You’re looking for you. They call me the Seeker. I’ve been searching low and high. I won’t get to get what I’m after. Till the day I die."

The lyrics of this song sums up the film quite literally, by the end of the film, Lester finally sees his daughter in Angela and no longer lusts after her; finally being able to look past the hype and realize what he'd been looking for this entire time was right in front of him, his family. By the time he sees this, finally found what he'd been seeking, he comes to his end.