Tonight on TV: Rated 4.2 out of 5, the director’s first film Skyfall heralded the birth of a cinematic master.

Thirteen years before Skyfall, Sam Mendes made his directorial debut at the age of 34 with a black comedy-drama that would mark film history, a first that spoke volumes for who would also sign The Paths of Perdition. , rebel weddings or even 1917

Lester and Carolyn Burnham live the perfect little life in the perfect neighborhood with their daughter Jane. But in reality, Lester is going through a midlife crisis and sinking deeper and deeper into a desperate depression as he falls in love with his teenage daughter’s best friend. Then unfolds a family tragi-comedy consisting of unconscious desires, frustrations and repressed violence that will lead the man to certain death.

Described as a satire of suburban American life, the film, notably produced by Steven Spielberg, is an exploration of love, family, sexuality, materialism, identity, self-liberation and redemption. Critics at the time had a field day, particularly impressed by the feature film’s desire to push the limits of the “Hollywood standard” and the striking contrast between the happy lives of suburban America and the dark secrets they hide.

When it was released in 1999, American Beauty thus became the second highest rated American film of the year (John Malkovich at Cannes) and won many awards, including five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor. Kevin Spacey, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

Consequently, this justifies its average rating on AlloCiné of 4.2 out of 5, which also testifies to its impact on the captivated audience that has given it to the box office. The feature film has indeed brought in over $350 million internationally, an astronomical amount compared to its $15 million debut.

While critics and the public have been divided over its controversial subject matter over time, apart from the recent revelations made about its lead actor – who, therefore, played a role slightly closer to reality, american beauty Nevertheless, it remains a work that marked the film world and cannot be missed.

american beauty Sam Mendes with Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch…

from the age of 16

Tonight on ARTE at 20:50.