Synopsis

Lester Burnham appears to have everything a suburban family man should want, yet feels trapped in a joyless marriage, an unrewarding job, and a distant relationship with his daughter. As his carefully controlled life begins to unravel, Lester pursues freedom through rebellion and fantasy, while the troubled people around him struggle with secrecy, desire, conformity, and the search for something genuine.

Factoids & Trivia

• Alan Ball initially conceived the story as a stage play in the early 1990s. He later abandoned that version, then revived the idea as a screenplay while trying to reestablish himself as a writer in Hollywood.

• The screenplay was originally titled "American Rose." DreamWorks bought it outright in April 1998 for $250,000, reportedly outbidding several other companies.

• The film's visual approach was planned unusually early. Its entire structure was storyboarded during the development period, helping create the composed, almost theatrical look that contrasts with the characters' emotional turmoil.

• Principal photography took place from December 14, 1998, into February 1999. Filming combined Los Angeles locations with sets built on the Warner Bros. backlot, including the neighboring suburban houses.

• The phrase "look closer" began as a piece of set dressing: a clipping placed on a cubicle by the set decorator. It later became the film's central marketing tagline.

• DreamWorks commissioned Amazon.com to create the film's official website, one of the earliest major studio movie sites to receive a dedicated section on the online retailer's platform.

• The Spartanettes dance routine was choreographed by Paula Abdul, an unexpected connection in a film better known for its suburban satire and dreamlike imagery.

• The recurring red roses and petals were used as a strong visual motif, linking desire, fantasy, danger, and the polished surface of suburban life.

• At the 72nd Academy Awards, the film won five Oscars from eight nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.