Mise en scene-American Beauty

• Colour

 The colours in this shot are quite neutral, the curtains and background are plain colours compared to the bright red flowers in the middle of the table. This shows that these are center of attention and suggest something in this image, they could suggest love and anger which are common in families. The tablecloth is blue which could represent how cold the family is and how they don't get on well but it could also suggest how they try to create a calmer atmosphere. 

• Costume

Both of the adults are wearing formal clothes compared to the girl who appears to be in a jumper showing her age and how she is less formal then her parents. The daughter is wearing red and white stripes which signify innocence and danger showing how she is at the age where she is transitioning from a child to an adult. The mother appears to be wearing a silk shirt which suggests wealth and how she tries to impress. In the picture you can see the man's wedding ring but you cannot see the woman's which could suggest their relationship isn't very strong.

• Lighting

The lighting in this image is artificial as the room is lit by candlelight instead of using the lamp in the background. This suggests that the family is trying to create a better atmosphere for the meal to try and improve their relationship. The image is dark at either side where the parents are sat to show that there relationship is not very good and they do not feel the same way about each other as they do about their daughter who is lit more.

• Body language/posture

The daughter has her arms crossed which show how she does not want to be there and how she is annoyed at her parents. The father also shows this behavior from his clenched fists which represent anger in comparison to the mother who appears to look nervous from her hands. The mother appears to have good posture compared to the child who is slumped showing the age difference in how they are represented.

• Framing

The image is very symmetrical as there is equal candles either side of the daughter which creates a frame around the daughter. The long table also shows the distance between the mother and father and creates a frame for their relationship as they do not see eye-to-eye.

• Hair and makeup

The daughter is wearing red lipstick and black eyeliner to show how she rebels against her parents formal style and how she is representing danger. This could be down to her age or showing her character's personality. Her hair is in a ponytail which could suggest laziness or innocence as she has not done anything with it to try and impress anyone. The mother appears to have made more of an effort than her daughter, her hair appears to be styled and her make-up is basic but traditional showing the type of person she is.

• Setting and props

The image is set in the dining room of the family to show that the dinner is important to them as they are not in a room with a television or anything that could distract them from the dinner or take away any chance of conversation. The candles and individual food items show the effort that the family has put into the meal and therefore highlighting its importance. The wine is positioned closer to the mum suggesting how she drinks it and maybe the father does not as much.

• Facial expressions

The mother and daughter both look angry but the daughter more so. Her face suggests that she does not wish to be there and shows how her relationship with her father is not that good. The father looks like he is trying to be civil with both the child and mother as his face is calm but his hands suggest frustration.