Well, 'American Beauty' has elements that are inspired by real - life. The idea of a middle - aged man going through a mid - life crisis, feeling unfulfilled in his marriage and job, is something that happens in reality. Also, the portrayal of the suburban setting with its hidden secrets and unspoken tensions is reflective of real suburban communities. However, it's not a direct retelling of one specific true story but rather a compilation of real - life motifs.
The mid - life crisis aspect. In the true story that inspired 'American Beauty', there was probably a sense of someone feeling trapped in their life, just like Lester in the movie.
One characteristic is its focus on human relationships. In 'american beauty novel', family relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships are often depicted in a nuanced way. There can be love, betrayal, and misunderstanding among the characters. Moreover, the language used is usually rich and descriptive, painting vivid pictures of the scenes and emotions.
It's hard to say. Beauty as a story could be completely fictional or have some loose ties to real-life events, but not be a direct account of a true story.