It’s not often that I watch a film I am genuinely impressed by. Typically, I stray away from the rom com genre, but I was introduced to When Harry Met Sally, a rom com classic from 1989, and was pleasantly surprised. Even though this film is not new in production, it is new to me exploring in a genre I usually don’t watch, and new watching a classic to educate me. It was refreshing to see a romantic comedy that, I personally felt, had unique elements I don’t typically see in these films, new or old.
I found the story line very enjoyable. I liked how it shows people from the start of the growth people go through the beginning of adulthood and the typical issues of life that people face. The ups and downs of life and love which resonates with audiences of all ages whether you are a student exploring and learning about yourself, or an adult facing the typical standards of life. It showed the struggles of being a woman or being a man in adult life.
A particular part of the film that resonated with me the most was the display of relationships with friends – specifically male friendships. I enjoyed that between Harry and Jess, it showed men actually in conversation about their feelings to do with relationships and love in a way I haven’t seen before in film. It shows men in vulnerable positions, straying away from the stereotypically ‘masculine’ ways men are portrayed in films and in the general media. It shows men interests in love and women, not in just how they look. I also enjoyed how it shows a relationship between a man and a woman that isn’t romantic or sexual, give a more realistic view on life. The best part is that it was made in 1989! The fact that these representations of men, and woman, are so progressive for a previous decade.
Feminism has been prominent since the beginning of the 20thcentury and was in its second wave during the 1980s. The second wave was influenced by politics showing how society reflected the patriarchy facing inequalities. Where the movie starts with Sally as a university student, a more realistic approach would have shown her with more feminist attitudes towards Harry. Where she does seem to care about how Harry looks at her and speaks about women in a derogatory way, it is another way of looking at the film from a different perspective.
In conclusion, the film appeals to all ages, all genders and is a wonderful story about love. I would recommend to all, even if you are not one for a rom com as I am. It has wonderful acting, wonderful cinematography and wonderful costume design if you are partial to looking at fashion through the decades. Whats not to love!
JAY GOOD 