When Harry met Sally.

When Harry met Sally (Rob Reiner, 1989) is said to be one of the best romantic comedies ever. And, in my opinion, it surely is. 

It breaks with the cliché "boy meets girl". It is true that the film starts with the classic "boy meets girl" but they do not fall in love at first sight, they do not even become friends. In the first part of the film the characters meet at different points in their lifes.  We can clearly see it in the change of their hairstyles and costumes, it is not only about their individual look but about the mood of the time. 

It is not until some years later when they do become friends. But, are they just that? Harry (Billy Cristal) does not really think a man and a woman can have a non-romantic relation, but they are friends. Is this really a romcom?

The divided screen when they are watching Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) at the same time but each of them at their home let us see how their friendship grows, sharing a lot of moments, becoming a support for each other... as friends. Don't be fooled, this is a romantic commedy. Proof of it are the close-up shots.

Do they look like friends?

They still think they are friends but the viewer knows the truth: Harry and Sally always appear together, face to face or side by side, appart from the rest of the world. In their bubble.

The famous scene when Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm.

In the first part of the film we get shots in which both main characters are onscreen, but in the last third of the film we get close-up or medium shots where only one character appears. The other is offscreen but he/she is still present.

Throughout the film there is an interesting device: An old couple tell how they met and how they fell in love. In my opinion this is disconcerting. By one side, you get the two friends who think they are just friends, and the viewer might begin to think so too, but then these old couples remain the viewer that love happens. In Hollywood love always happens.