 <unk> says the film " explicitly affirms the importance of upholding the prohibition against <unk> " ; a recurring theme of Ball 's work is his comparison of the <unk> against <unk> and homosexuality . Instead of making an overt distinction , American Beauty looks at how their repression can lead to violence . Col. <unk> is so <unk> of his homosexuality that it drives him to murder Lester . Ball said , " The movie is in part about how homophobia is based in fear and repression and about what [ they ] can do . " The film implies two <unk> <unk> desires : Lester 's pursuit of Angela is a manifestation of his lust for his own daughter , while Col. <unk> ' repression is exhibited through the almost <unk> discipline with which he controls Ricky . Consequently , Ricky realizes that he can only hurt his father by falsely telling him he is homosexual , while Angela 's vulnerability and submission to Lester reminds him of his responsibilities and the limits of his fantasy . Col. <unk> represents Ball 's father , whose <unk> homosexual desires led to his own <unk> . Ball rewrote Col. <unk> to delay revealing him as homosexual , which <unk> reads as a possible " <unk> of Ball 's own patriarchal @-@ <unk> fantasies " . 
