Set in the 1950's, Frank and April Wheeler's story parallels the "American Dream." The young couple falls in love, weds, moves to a picturesque house in the suburbs, and starts a family. Trading their dreams and unfulfilled desires to be who they think society wants them to be, the Wheelers surrender themselves to monotony and responsibility in order to fit the mold prescribed by the era.

At April's prompting, the couple makes plans to leave behind their American nightmare and hop the fence to Paris where things would certainly be greener. They believe that this move would afford them the ability to truly live and to feel once again&ellips; to be special. The Wheeler's plan, however, begins to quickly unravel, giving way to disheartening tragedy. Revolutionary Road tells a tale as grave and haunting as the musical score which accompanies it.

As I became immersed in the story, I couldn't help but wonder if I know a Frank and April Wheeler. Do I have a neighbor, an acquaintance, or a friend who wears a mask of happiness and normalcy? If I looked beyond the façade, would I discover that a smile has veiled a life of quiet desperation? I was left feeling empty and sad, but at the same time compelled to be a herald of domestic hope.

The theme that ultimately resonated with me was that of truth. In their pursuit of life, April and Frank emphasize the importance of being truthful to themselves and to one another. Truth becomes their plumb line, yet I believe they fail to recognize that their truth is a form of honesty rooted in feelings and emotions and fed by circumstances.

One of my favorite monologues of all time was penned by Charlotte Bronte. Her heroine, Jane Eyre, is overcome by her circumstances and subsequent feelings, and she realizes that she must rely on what she knows to be right, rather than allowing her emotions to guide her actions.

In our own culture which espouses relativism and the lack of any absolute truth, we are left floundering in seas of emotions and feelings. I believe that the only way to successfully navigate these waters is to weigh our own "truths" against God's Word. The truth is, we don't have to live an American dream, that trials are used by God to refine us, that children are a blessing and heritage given by God, and that Christ died to pave the way for an abundant life for those who believe in him. I wish I could tell the Wheelers.

The DVD's special features offers another perspective on leading quiet lives of desperation, with interviews by the main actors and director Sam Mendes. Also, there are quite a few deleted scenes which feature Leonardo DiCaprio's wide acting range.