Love
The opening imagery of the film is that of April and Frank meeting. They talk and slow dance. This imagery leads the audience to believe they are falling in love. But right after the dance, we are shown April failing at her play and Frank unable to console her loses his temper on her. This imagery conveys to the audience that this isn’t a simple romance movie where everything works in the relationship. Moreover, this imagery sets up the complicated relationship that is the focus of the film.
A Husband and A father
After April and Frank find their house on Revolutionary Road, both are shown going through their daily routine. Frank heads off to work and April do work around the house. Frank then proceeds to have a fling with a co-worker. While April contemplates how she has been unfair to Frank. Eventually, when Frank returns home we see that Frank also has two kids with April. This imagery of April and his kids standing there wishing him happy birthday makes Frank and the audience aware of the extent his mistake that could ruin their lives.
Moving
April motivates and convinces Frank to move to Paris. She reasons that they both hate their daily life and have been trapped in this idea of how couples should be after settling down. Later, when they reveal their plan of moving to Paris to Shep and Milly, we see both get shocked and are unable to accept that they are actually moving. This imagery of Shep and Milly in disbelief displays how they themselves want something similar. They themselves want to move to an exotic city but are held down by their responsibilities and are self-limited by their lack of courage to plan such a move.
Pregnancy
April’s pregnancy places pressure on their plan of moving to Paris. So, April decides to buy a rubber tubing to give herself an abortion. When Frank finds the instrument, he argues and fights with April. April, however, tries to plead in her favor. This imagery of April fighting an argument that might place her health in danger shows her disdain for her current life and her immense desire of moving to another place. This imagery shows how much she is willing to sacrifice.
