“When Harry Met Sally” is one of the first films I think of when there’s an autumn chill in the air. Most of the film takes place in the fall or winter, and everything from the chunky sweaters and vibrant orange leaves exudes fall. Coming off of the success of “The Princess Bride” in 1987, Rob Reiner chose to follow the latest in what would become a series of directorial victories with a love story told through snippets of a relationship’s long-spanning timeline. Nora Ephron, the beloved writer and director of “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail,” also contributed to the film’s screenplay.
Set against the backdrop of New York City throughout the seasons, this is one of those movies that captures the essence of what it is to live in the city. The characters move and interact with the city engagingly, and watching this film after living in the city for a year deepened my appreciation for how distinctly “New York” felt. Harry and Sally take walks through Central Park, visit the Met and have that famous conversation in the one and only Katz Deli. By showing off some familiar locations, any New Yorker who watches this movie–and even some people who have only visited–can firmly ground themselves in the reality of the love story between Harry and Sally.
I’ll be the first to admit that rom-coms aren’t usually my thing. They’re fun to watch with friends and to poke fun at, but most of the more recent attempts in the genre have fallen flat for me. That said, I truly love “When Harry Met Sally” and many of the rom-coms released in the 80s and 90s. Classics of this era like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “While You Were Sleeping” always felt more real to me, grounded in relatable characters played by charming actors like Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.
One of the things that sets “When Harry Met Sally” apart is its atmosphere. As mentioned, most of the film takes place in New York–and that, I believe, is one of its main charms. The idea of these two people somehow continuing to bump into one another in a sea of millions of people makes it all the more romantic. Ephron sets up early on this feeling that they’re always meant to find each other– it’s just a matter of when.
Another reason I love this film is the believability of Harry and Sally as characters–one of the primary shortcomings of modern romantic comedies, in my opinion. They’re written so naturally; they both feel like people you could bump into on the street. Their primary traits– Sally’s obsessive nature over control and Harry’s aloof cynicism– contrast one another in a way that makes their slow development of feelings for one another so fascinating to watch, especially as they engage in other romantic relationships over the course of the film.
