Friendship between a Man and a Woman
Have you ever written an essay about a person who influenced your life. This post is similar to the essay. The film When Harry Met Sally is directed and produced by Rob Reiner and cinematographed by Barry Sonnenfeld in 1989 in a unique way. It represents a perfect play of such main actors as Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, and others. It refers to one of the most romantic and humorous comedies with several documentary elements. They represent an appropriate relationship between a man and a woman. The plot of the film seems to be simple. However, it also covers some important issues making the audience plunge into the current events. The background of the story also portrays a marriage in order to depict such types of love as passionate and conjugal. In such a way, a primary point of the film is to observe the concept of male and female friendship approving or disapproving its existence based on the dramatic elements of the comedy as the main issue relates to the political and sociological concerns of society.
Theory of Friendship and Philosophy of Marriage
Nobody has a precise answer as for friendship of the opposite genders. The plot of the story shows young Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) and Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) who have just graduated from college. They make an unusual decision to drive to New York in order to start a new part in their life. The characters dream to find a good job and bring their intentions to life. They discuss the problems of sex and relationships arguing whether men and women can be friends, or it is merely impossible. Sally is sure that such friendship is possible, and sex does not exist in these relations. Harry cannot support her ideas. Nevertheless, he begins to pay compliments to Sally despite he has a girlfriend. Sally does not accept Harry’s flirtation as his girlfriend is her best friend. As for Harry, everything seems simple, therefore, he indicates that he will lie. Perhaps, he is an ordinary male representative as all men make things simple, and simplicity is their usual attitude to life. Men often do not take into account those issues that can bother women. It leads to the discordance of their opinions and the perception of the world. On the other hand, Harry indicates that friendship between a man and a woman is possible just in case they have constant life partners. Nevertheless, later or earlier, one of the partners will ask himself/ herself about the necessity of such friendship. Thus, they leave each other not changing their views as for friendship.
Time flies very quickly, but life does not bring any moral and spiritual satisfaction to the main characters. They meet each other occasionally in five or six years and still do not understand that they must spend life together. It seems that Sally hates Harry, but it is not true. Unexpectedly, Harry breaks his own philosophy and stable ideas that relate to these unanswered questions and becomes a sincere friend to Sally. The characters begin to visit cinemas, have dinners together and speak over the phone every single night discussing every scene of the film they have watched. They also share their sexual dreams speaking about the sacred moments. Harry and Sally trust each other even not suspecting that it is true love. When they meet other people, they state that there is nothing between them except friendship. Time passes by, and Harry marries. However, in some period, his wife, Helen, breaks up their relations. They get divorced. Sally also is unlucky with John, and she leaves him. From now on, Harry and Sally meet with each other, choose the New Year’s tree before Christmas, and even celebrate the New Year together.
However, one day, Sally calls Harry to comfort her as she learns that John is going to marry. As a result, they have had sex, and their so-called friendship has become over. This event causes the first tension in the plot attracting the audience’s attention that feels sympathy and even compassion for the characters. It is evident that they are not friends anymore having various ways to live. At last, Harry and Sally have realized that they love each other and stay together, but this couple has needed approximately twelve years to understand this fact. Harry made the first step and recognized that he would like to spend the rest of his life with Sally. On the other hand, Harry and Sally have experienced too much in life in order to find a right decision not to run away from their fate. Thus, both of them have learned freedom but realized that it is not important, as the marriage is holy and love is priceless.
These relationships are more realistic than most comedies represent within the whole plot. They differ from the classical models of romantic love. Reiner observes such a political question as “Can two friends sleep together and still love each other in the morning?”. It was a widespread topic in society, magazines, and on TV in 1989. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the relative conventions that the director tries to present in a systematic way. The problem is that the conventions reveal the significance of such initial issues as culture, sociology, and even politics. This comedy portrays the exact span of time when Harry and Sally first direct to New York having their joint trip. Their friendship grows more and more. Thus, eventually, it transforms into their marriage. The story illustrates the main characters’ evolution. It leads to observe some certain aspects and conventions of the relationships of two genders in American society that existed in the 1980s.
First of all, it is vital to concentrate on the film’s title. It provides a deep structure, which contains some essential elements. The film also has a documentary part, which includes some commentaries of six couples that are quite old. However, they mention about their personal dates and marriages. They narrate how they met speaking about passionate love and that conjugal one that appears only in a marriage. It means that a husband and a wife share not only joy but grief as well. They can support each other in any difficult situation. Such point of view helps the audience think about true love and the marriage based on support and understanding. It is possible to assume that such interpretation of different aspects and boundaries of love reveal the Hollywood facets. Besides, the protagonists become an integral part of these comments. Eventually, they also take part in this documentary valuing life in another way. Undoubtedly, it is necessary to emphasize the perfect play of Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan who are the strength of the film. Bill’s pessimistic and dry features and Mag’s effervescence and buoyancy create a vulnerable side in the plot. They are successful in their careers, but they look like ordinary people. Both of them prefer to wear simple clothes and do not have any mannered style. Thus, the protagonists’ way of behavior and the costumes’ simplicity depict their inner world.
Secondly, the music is charming, and it plays a very significant role in the plot. It has a double meaning, which depicts the idea of the presented story. All musical versions of the classical songs are original. They demonstrate the past relations of the elderly couples. This demonstration can be a unique example for a young generation that does not appreciate anything in life. On the other hand, the director uses some contemporary songs in order to emphasize their double meaning and character. In such a way, even music includes some norms that show people how to behave in society, and what moral and spiritual values it is needed to possess. These points help the protagonists create an alternative form of behavior in the surrounded world. Besides, classical songs that are based on love provide various models of the relationships in order to emphasize the contradictory of the main theme. Thus, the words of song “it had to be you” reinforce the overall meaning of music and its influence on the audience.
The film plays with the tension between the ritual function and a more ideological stance. The plot of the story has a simple structural model when a man loses his girlfriend and immediately finds her. It is a Hollywood form, which represents romantic and tender love. According to the plot, it has the important stages that illustrate Harry’s and Sally’s relationship and the conventional happy end of the film. However, the background of the story is based on such vital principles as a re-encounter, a donjuanesque point, a doom meeting of lovers, and the recognition. Harry and Sally meet each other for the second time in five years. Now it is a triangle as Sally has a boyfriend. Also, they bought the tickets of one flight recollecting what had happened before. However, they try to be separated from each other. Undoubtedly, the protagonists do not manage it as it seems that they follow the same corridor in order to be together.
It is strange and unexpectedly for Harry and Sally, but their next third meeting occurs in five years in a bookshop. In this scene, the characters look different, because something altered in their mind. Their sub-consciousness dictates some new decisive actions that will lead them to a right way at last. It is obvious that Harry and Sally are tired of their constant search for new partners due to the past numerous failures in love. Additionally, Harry is looking through the books in Personal Growth department, and Sally is carrying a book Smart Women: Foolish Choices. It is a definite moment that explains their future intention as for their decision to spend life together. They have grown up being ready to get rid of unnecessary and stupid relationships, which contain nothing more vital than sex. The third concept demonstrates some Plato’s ideas as Harry and Sally meet each other all the time despite it seems that life separates them. Thus, the theory of a doom meeting of the lovers is appropriate to this situation, because they have never encountered like lovers. As for the recognition, Harry and Sally needed many years in order to understand that God created them to unite their lives one day. Their illusion as for friendship is totally broken. They perceive the world in another way even not suspecting before that their fate is in their hands.
It is evident that the movie When Harry Met Sally includes the elements of comedy and drama at the same time. I have defined the precise theme, the appropriate cinematic techniques, and the genre that relates to the film in order to understand the plot and its general meaning. Concentrating on different elements to the movie analysis, I have observed such approaches as structural, narrative, and iconic in order to represent the film analysis in a detailed way. It has become evident that space, time, sound, and such additional elements as the existent images and the tone play a very important role. They portray the overall story interacting with each other. The point is that all these elements affect both the film’s and audience’s mood allowing researching the plot deeper. It is easier to realize the main idea of the story and its background. Additionally, the sequence of the current events happens within twelve years, and it compelled me to pay attention to every new shot. It was close-up, medium, or even long. In this case, it was interesting to notice that time passes by very quickly, but the appearance of the main characters is almost unchangeable. It seems that they live in their own separated world, which is inaccessible for others.
Applying the genre theory and criticism, I have understood that every element is significant as it is an integral part of the plot. The way of its use can have either a positive or negative impact on the audience’s perception. Moreover, the combination of the elements creates the united picture. It allows plunging into the plot of the film being one of the characters as well. On the other hand, the theory and criticism explain even more than just the story of the film and its meaning. They depict the truth of life and reveal that people are often mistaken as for their views, because life can be extremely difficult at times. In this case, Harry and Sally have needed twelve years in order to conclude that they waste their time searching for a new partner. Also, Sally has discovered that there is no friendship between a man and a woman as God created both of them to love each other in a marriage.
As I have mentioned, the film When Harry Met Sally refers to the comedy, but it also contains some dramatic elements. They have made me muse about the values of life and the human primary purpose on the Earth. Certainly, this comedy is full of humor. It is a so-called driving force of this genre as its constant presence reinforces the mood of the film. However, a temporary use of the dramatic tone helps the audience understand the implication of the story and its meaning. It opens the interpretation of the film in different ways to reflect the existent problems of society. As for me, I have realized that there are no contingencies in life. People create their fates themselves, because everything depends on them. Undoubtedly, there is such a vital issue as patience. I mean that every person must be patient in any serious situation as patience is a last key that opens doors. It is only necessary to be in the right place at the right time. In such a way, the analysis of the film has helped me develop my critical thinking as musing about the represented story and the fundamental truth it contains. I have broadened my mind and outlook as for the sense of life and everlasting difficulties that society encounters all the time.
In conclusion, Rob Reiner has created a wonderful comedy. It represents such important themes as love and its types, marriage, and the existent points of view, according to people that have lived in a marriage more than fifty years. The film explores the theory of friendship between a man and a woman showing that society concentrates on this question too much as it refers to the ideological and sociological points. All in all, the main characters break up this theory and marry each other. Also, the plot is based on the appropriate conventions that make the meaning of the movie remarkable and unforgettable. The idea of this film is incredible not just due to its genre, but it is illuminating for young people. The latter ones do not value the relationships even not suspecting what they lose. It is obvious that it is difficult to build something eternal. There is no need to have much time in order to destroy somebody’s life.
Secondly, the music is charming, and it plays a very significant role in the plot. It has a double meaning, which depicts the idea of the presented story. All musical versions of the classical songs are original. They demonstrate the past relations of the elderly couples. This demonstration can be a unique example for a young generation that does not appreciate anything in life. On the other hand, the director uses some contemporary songs in order to emphasize their double meaning and character. In such a way, even music includes some norms that show people how to behave in society, and what moral and spiritual values it is needed to possess. These points help the protagonists create an alternative form of behavior in the surrounded world. Besides, classical songs that are based on love provide various models of the relationships in order to emphasize the contradictory of the main theme. Thus, the words of song “it had to be you” reinforce the overall meaning of music and its influence on the audience.
The film plays with the tension between the ritual function and a more ideological stance. The plot of the story has a simple structural model when a man loses his girlfriend and immediately finds her. It is a Hollywood form, which represents romantic and tender love. According to the plot, it has the important stages that illustrate Harry’s and Sally’s relationship and the conventional happy end of the film. However, the background of the story is based on such vital principles as a re-encounter, a donjuanesque point, a doom meeting of lovers, and the recognition. Harry and Sally meet each other for the second time in five years. Now it is a triangle as Sally has a boyfriend. Also, they bought the tickets of one flight recollecting what had happened before. However, they try to be separated from each other. Undoubtedly, the protagonists do not manage it as it seems that they follow the same corridor in order to be together.
It is strange and unexpectedly for Harry and Sally, but their next third meeting occurs in five years in a bookshop. In this scene, the characters look different, because something altered in their mind. Their sub-consciousness dictates some new decisive actions that will lead them to a right way at last. It is obvious that Harry and Sally are tired of their constant search for new partners due to the past numerous failures in love. Additionally, Harry is looking through the books in Personal Growth department, and Sally is carrying a book Smart Women: Foolish Choices. It is a definite moment that explains their future intention as for their decision to spend life together. They have grown up being ready to get rid of unnecessary and stupid relationships, which contain nothing more vital than sex. The third concept demonstrates some Plato’s ideas as Harry and Sally meet each other all the time despite it seems that life separates them. Thus, the theory of a doom meeting of the lovers is appropriate to this situation, because they have never encountered like lovers. As for the recognition, Harry and Sally needed many years in order to understand that God created them to unite their lives one day. Their illusion as for friendship is totally broken. They perceive the world in another way even not suspecting before that their fate is in their hands.
It is evident that the movie When Harry Met Sally includes the elements of comedy and drama at the same time. I have defined the precise theme, the appropriate cinematic techniques, and the genre that relates to the film in order to understand the plot and its general meaning. Concentrating on different elements to the movie analysis, I have observed such approaches as structural, narrative, and iconic in order to represent the film analysis in a detailed way. It has become evident that space, time, sound, and such additional elements as the existent images and the tone play a very important role. They portray the overall story interacting with each other. The point is that all these elements affect both the film’s and audience’s mood allowing researching the plot deeper. It is easier to realize the main idea of the story and its background. Additionally, the sequence of the current events happens within twelve years, and it compelled me to pay attention to every new shot. It was close-up, medium, or even long. In this case, it was interesting to notice that time passes by very quickly, but the appearance of the main characters is almost unchangeable. It seems that they live in their own separated world, which is inaccessible for others.
Applying the genre theory and criticism, I have understood that every element is significant as it is an integral part of the plot. The way of its use can have either a positive or negative impact on the audience’s perception. Moreover, the combination of the elements creates the united picture. It allows plunging into the plot of the film being one of the characters as well. On the other hand, the theory and criticism explain even more than just the story of the film and its meaning. They depict the truth of life and reveal that people are often mistaken as for their views, because life can be extremely difficult at times. In this case, Harry and Sally have needed twelve years in order to conclude that they waste their time searching for a new partner. Also, Sally has discovered that there is no friendship between a man and a woman as God created both of them to love each other in a marriage.
As I have mentioned, the film When Harry Met Sally refers to the comedy, but it also contains some dramatic elements. They have made me muse about the values of life and the human primary purpose on the Earth. Certainly, this comedy is full of humor. It is a so-called driving force of this genre as its constant presence reinforces the mood of the film. However, a temporary use of the dramatic tone helps the audience understand the implication of the story and its meaning. It opens the interpretation of the film in different ways to reflect the existent problems of society. As for me, I have realized that there are no contingencies in life. People create their fates themselves, because everything depends on them. Undoubtedly, there is such a vital issue as patience. I mean that every person must be patient in any serious situation as patience is a last key that opens doors. It is only necessary to be in the right place at the right time. In such a way, the analysis of the film has helped me develop my critical thinking as musing about the represented story and the fundamental truth it contains. I have broadened my mind and outlook as for the sense of life and everlasting difficulties that society encounters all the time.
In conclusion, Rob Reiner has created a wonderful comedy. It represents such important themes as love and its types, marriage, and the existent points of view, according to people that have lived in a marriage more than fifty years. The film explores the theory of friendship between a man and a woman showing that society concentrates on this question too much as it refers to the ideological and sociological points. All in all, the main characters break up this theory and marry each other. Also, the plot is based on the appropriate conventions that make the meaning of the movie remarkable and unforgettable. The idea of this film is incredible not just due to its genre, but it is illuminating for young people. The latter ones do not value the relationships even not suspecting what they lose. It is obvious that it is difficult to build something eternal. There is no need to have much time in order to destroy somebody’s life.
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