What can we learn from a memorable moment from the legendary American Beauty Movie, where a real estate broker Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening) in Sam Mendes‘ American Beauty movie is determined to “sell a house today”.
What is the main message of the American Beauty movie?
The American Beauty is a 1999 film that was directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. It tells the story of Lester Burnham, an unhappy suburban father in a mid-life crisis. The plot centers on his mid-life crisis. And how it affects his relationships with his real estate broker wife Carolyn and daughter Jane. The Movie begins with the protagonist, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), in a depressed state. After his daughter Jane’s birthday party, he is shown failing to make headway at work and then engaging in an argument with Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening), when she returns home. His realtor, Mr. Carruthers (Chris Cooper), convinces him to put up their house for sale after seeing it on television in its current condition.
The movie follows Lester as he decides to take the opportunity offered by his agent and also tries to reconcile with Carolyn who has fallen into bed with another man named Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley). In the process, Lester becomes more and more involved with Carolyn’s young daughter Jane (Thora Birch). Despite having to deal with a vile-mouthed real estate agent, a nosy neighbor and a wife who he discovers is pregnant after she fakes a pregnancy test at a scheduled doctor’s appointment, Lester succeeds in making his house attractive for buyers. He makes an offer on the house of his dreams but this is not accepted by its current owner because it was placed before he could raise his own bid. The ensuing fight results in Carolyn leaving their house abruptly as well as Lester being fired from his job. In the end, however, life works out for everyone.
The Best Real Estate Scene of All Times
As our true introduction to Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening) in Sam Mendes‘ American Beauty, we see her arrive at a house, determined to sell it. She opens the front door and intones, “I will sell this house today.” This is a very name-it-and-claim-it strategy. Carolyn sets out to clean the HECK out of that house, determined to sell it. That’s the extent of her intro to us.
In a bit, we see Carolyn driving home from work as a real estate agent. And she is asked by her daughter Jane (Thora Birch) how many houses were sold that day. “Fifty-seven!” responds Carolyn excitedly, adding with an inquisitive “Mmm?” for emphasis. It seems like a strange question at first. But it isn’t really. It’s about validation for Carolyn. She wants to be able to answer that question proudly. Because buying or selling a house is all about validating yourself. When you buy one house over another, you are saying to the world “I am this.”
