When Harry Met Sally. Dir. Rob Reiner. Perf. Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, and Carrie Fisher. MGM, 1989.
When Harry Met Sally is a classic example of the communication barriers that exist between men and women. The film is full of examples of miscommunication and misunderstandings between the two genders but this Youtube clip is a short example of the film's genius. Harry explains to Sally his theory that a friendship between a man and a woman will forever be tainted if there is attraction between them. Sally is confused by his theory but surrenders in saying that they will never be friends. The two, however, do proceed to have a deep and meaningful friendship that later turns into something more. This movie, though now seemingly outdated, remains a classic for the ages because of the way it discusses the differences between men and women. Though time has passed and styles have changed since its' release date, men and women continue to run into the same communication and miscommunication patterns. It remains that men think more concretely and simply than women. Women, on the other hand, tend to over analyze and think on a deeper level than men when it comes to relationships. Though there are exceptions to this rule, Harry and Sally depict classic communication and attraction that causes them both to fall in love and learn to speak each other's languages.
I completely agree with your analysis of this film. Kids these days rarely go back and watch older films that are "seemingly outdated", which is disappointing because films of that era do a great job at poking at the funny reality of gender difference.
ReplyDeleteI'm always quite amused when I see comics portraying the "miscommunication* and misunderstandings between the two genders." Billy Crystal does a great job at acting the common miscommunication that occurs when "men think more concretely and simply than women." I find this to be the rule most of the time in my life, but I agree with you Amelia when you say "[t]hough there are exceptions to this rule." But most of the time men "think more concretely and simply" about relationships with women as seen when Billy Crystal says "men and women can' be friends because the sex part always gets in the way." Its hard to compare my own experience to the female thoughts during relationships (including friendship), but I will try, as you have, to take the opposite gender's perspective on the "communication barriers that exist between men and women."
I think Meg Ryan exposes the essence of woman thought which as a rule tends to "over analyze and think on a deeper level than men when it comes to relationships." Women on a whole do over analyze, while Men on the other hand like to chill and think more simply. As a man I envy how women can think on a deeper level when it comes to relationships. I just can't stop myself from letting, like Billy Crystal so eloquently put it, the "sex get in the way" whenever I talk to a female. "[C]lassic communication" barriers exist between men and women, and I find it funny how When Harry Met Sally portrays this. Men just simply objectify women instead of trying to learn "how to speak each other's languages." Maybe someday I will be able to comprehend your language and figure out what you are saying here Amelia.