American Beauty

　　On a typical suburban street in a typical suburban town, there is an ordinary family living the American dream. But look closer. Lester Burnham's wife, Carolyn, regards him with contempt, his daughter, Jane, thinks he's a loser, and his boss is positioning him for the ax. Captivated by Jane's sultry high school friend Angela, Lester decides to make a few changes in his mere existence—changes that are less mid-life crisis than a life reclaimed. The freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife and daughter. Complicating matters, Lester finds an unexpected ally in Ricky, the teenage son of the new next-door neighbors, who sees life through a camera lens that has lately focused on Jane Burnham.

作者簡介

　　Alan Ball previously served as co-executive producer and writer for the TV series Cybill and also wrote for the sitcom Grace Under Fire. He is creator, head writer, and executive producer of the ABC series Oh, Grow Up. American Beauty is his first produced feature film screenplay. Sam Mendes's theatrical triumphs include the Tony Award-winning revival of Cabaret in London and on Broadway; The Blue Room, starring Nicole Kidman, and the original stage production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, starring Jane Horrocks.