 With other turn @-@ of @-@ the @-@ millennium films such as Fight Club , In the Company of Men ( 1997 ) , American <unk> ( 2000 ) , and Boys Don 't <unk> ( 1999 ) , American Beauty " raises the broader , widely explored issue of <unk> in crisis " . Professor Vincent <unk> charges that in their reinforcement of <unk> " against threats posed by war , by <unk> , and by feminist and <unk> challenges " , these films present a need to " focus on , and even to privilege " aspects of <unk> " deemed ' <unk> ' " . Lester 's transformation conveys " that he , and not the woman , has borne the brunt of [ lack of being ] " and he will not stand for being <unk> . Lester 's attempts to " strengthen traditional <unk> " conflict with his responsibilities as a father . Although the film portrays the way Lester returns to that role positively , he does not become " the <unk> figure implicitly celebrated in films like Fight Club " . <unk> concludes that Lester 's behavior toward Angela is " a <unk> but nearly necessary step toward his becoming a father again " . 
