American Beauty (1999) - 6 questions

Question: Was Col. Frank Fitts really gay, or was he just testing Lescster to see if he was gay? Also if he was gay, then how come he was so disgusted by it earlier in the film?

Answer: Frank was gay. As to why he was disgusted by it, he had probably been in complete denial about his true nature for years. Many gay people are torn over their sexual orientation. Adhering to a strict macho military image may have helped Frank mask his true feelings, and he probably considered gay people as being weak and loathsome, while denying he was one. When he acknowledged his own homosexuality, he, in effect, despised himself and considered his life a failure.

Question: What variety of rose was used in the film throughout the house as arrangements, petals and the plantings in the Burnham yard? It doesn't look like American Beauty as that rose is pink and a climber.

Answer: The American Beauty rose has several cultivars, both bush and climbing and several colors including red and white.

Question: The two credited Film Editors according to IMDB are Tariq Anwar and Christopher Greenbury. However only Tariq Anwar was Oscar nominated for this film, why is this?

Answer: According to www.oscars.org, both were nominated.

Question: What do the roses symbolize?

Answer: Essentially nothing, although they are actually a type of rose called "American Beauty," so perhaps they show the beauty and innocence of the girl in question.

Question: What's the name of the song played in the background of the scene where Lester and Angela are admitting they want each other? It's when she says, "I hope you don't mind I put the stereo on."

Answer: The song is called 'Don't Let It Bring You Down' by Annie Lennox and is on her 'Medusa' album. (It isn't on the American Beauty soundtrack unfortunately).

Question: I was just wondering if anyone knows what Jane and her father Lester were talking about in the first scene Ricky films them in the kitchen. You see their lips move but naturally since he's in a different house there are no words to accompy this. Maybe a lip reader could help?

Answer: I think they were talking about how Jane never tells Lester anything anymore. He says how they used to be pals and Jane starts to say something and then I think they see Ricky move outside.