Reality. Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary defines reality as "something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily." But what is real by today's standards? Does what appears to be normal equal reality? By looking at two different films it seems that the old cliche stands correct. Things aren't as they appear. American Beauty and The Virgin Suicides give classic examples of how "normal" and "happy" suburban life is anything but. American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes (1999) and The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola (2000), share many of the same themes even though the plots are contrasted. Underneath the layers of white picket fences, beautiful houses, and safe neighborhoods, lies a truth. A truth so dark that it leads to the destruction of many characters in both of these movies.
The first element that must be looked at is the imprisonment of the characters in both films. The main character of American Beauty, Lester Burnham, is the man......

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Title: American Beauty And Virgin Suicides Comparison
Approximate Word Count: 2843
Approximate Pages: 12 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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