American Beauty - a Christian's perspective

I say 'a Christian's perspective' and not 'a Christian perspective'. Which means I allow that I be wrong. This is about the film American Beauty. First, the film is known for its great technical filmaking, with a highly acclaimed script and score. Most people would agree with that. What divides people is a moral problem - whether the film makes any positive moral judgements. I have read a Christian website in which some Christians gave very extremely opposite views of this film. Some were offended by it, believing it to be 'anti-Christian' and 'utterly garbage':

"a movie that exhibits a year-in-the-life of two extremely disturbed families which glorify homosexuality, adultery, lies, profanity, murder, hate, nudity, etc..."

While another camp defends the show saying that it tells much of the truth of the American culture. Which means that if we find this film depraved and lost, it is because in reality the culture is. Many of Martin Scorsese's films are very violent - and very real at the same time. A film that shows an American culture where the characters uttered no profanities, were involved in no homosexuality, administered no violence, took no drugs and do not abuse sexuality would hardly be true. It can argued that the film no more approves of the sins anymore than the Bible approves of David's adultery. It is therefore rather pleasantly surprising that I came across a comment which reflects the very first thought that I had after watching the film:

"While many audience members will never be able to see past the film's content, there is an incredible core to the film's message - though it isn't found until the film's final scenes and, even then, the director doesn't beat you over the head with it. He trusts that his audience is smart enough to understand. He trusts that his audience knows that the film isn't approving of lustful infatuation Lester feels for Angela. He trusts that his audience isn't going to approve of the immorality that is very prevalent in these characters' lives. He trusts that his audience is going to see the answer to the question he puts forth in the film's opening. How can we move past the emotional deadness of our lives and restore the joy we once had? By learning to stop living a "me" centered life and start living a life of care and concern for others. The characters in this film are searching so hard for beauty and love and meaning in their lives, and all they seem to find is emptiness..."

The bolded portions are exactly what I thought. So one camp says it is rubbish. The other camp managed to infer the theme of Solomon's Ecclesiastes (which is what I got too when I finished the film). There can only be two possibilities for the latter view: One, it is the intended effect of the film. (I will explain later.) Second, I and many others have grossly over-interpreted and given undue significance to a piece of garbage. One important thing to note about the film is that it is morally ambiguous, yet I believe anyone who watched this film should easily detect the moral depravity so prevalent in this film (and the correct response is to feel disgusted, and reflect on the culture which we live in.) Mendes does not mention God. He does not mention Christ. He offers us no solution to the meaninglessness the characters felt. (Then again, how many movies actually do this? They might give an answer, but only one that makes the moviegoer satisfied with a happy ending, and give the moralist a temporary satisfactory answer. Mendes instead gave the audience room to think. I believe the freedom of reflective contemplation is a good thing.) But he managed to show the depravity of the culture, and of men. If Mendes wanted to glorify all things ugly, he wouldn't have done it in such an obvious way. I do not think that is the intention of the film.

What I felt was the main theme of this movie is Lester's belief that freedom is the answer to his meaningless life. He quits his job and feels excited about it (not the job, but the newfound freedom). He decides to pursue an infatuation. He wants nothing to do with his wife. He decides to work out his body. He decides to smoke pot. He buys a brand new Firebird car. There is no one to stop him doing anything he likes! No authority, complete freedom. Mendes does not go flat out and say 'This is wrong.' He leaves it to us, and my guess is that the audience already knows.
So is American Beauty a good film? It is a very hard film to judge, mainly because it is rather ambiguous. I would have to say this film is good in the sense that it portrays life in realism. The moral aspect of this film is still debatable but one thing I disagree is that it has no value in it. It portrays much truth about American culture and the meaninglessness of that culture. And I would not recommend this show to immature people because of its offensiveness - particularly coarse language and nudity. I would also not disagree if a Christian felt that this film does not glorify God. But if I could find someone who interpreted the film in about the same way as I did, I would gladly enter into a discussion about it.