1. en-ashram-N/G
2. 01-08-2025
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By Ila Nabi
     Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching and rewatching a genre on the cusp of revival: Romantic Comedies. I’ve watched films from the genre targeted at various audiences, received at various levels but the ones that have stuck out to me the most are that of the late great Nora Ephron. 

Nora Ephron was a writer and director, predominantly known for her films When Harry Met Sally (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You’ve Got Mail (1998). These films have stood the test of time in the thirty or so years that they’ve existed. They are films people constantly go back to, films that take you to a simpler time, in a time where it feels like the world is spinning. 

What makes Ephron’s films so enticing? Why can’t I seem to let go or ever get bored of them? The genre is formulaic. The films do not necessarily tackle any big issues and they are hardly contenders for big awards although Sleepless in Seattle did earn an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The answer is trite but true: they make people feel good. Not only do her films make audiences feel all warm and fuzzy inside – that is only one ingredient in the recipe. The others include New York City, homey set design and an undeniable attraction between the love interests. Though no big world or societal issues are really discussed, they do address the smaller social scenarios to which many can relate. Each film has their respective thesis that is clearly stated at the beginning that inevitably gets proven wrong so the two main characters end up together. These ingredients make a delicious and filling soup that is the Nora Ephron rom com. 

What I personally enjoy about the films is how Ephron clearly defines her characters through their actions and sets up their different traits. Sally Albright is extremely particular about every single meal she eats while Harry Burns frees himself from the fear of death by reading the ending of every book. Kathleen Kelly reads Pride and Prejudice multiple times a year because it is so dear to her heart while Joe Fox can apply the wisdom of The Godfather to every scenario. Annie Reed believes in a love so grand and perfect like in An Affair to Remember while Sam Baldwin constantly has to remind his son that the perfect woman does not live across the country, that love should be easier than that. These characteristics, while sometimes vague or silly, fit the characters so perfectly that it is almost as if they cannot exist without them. It’s what makes the characters special and lets the audience feel like they are a part of the former’s lives despite it being fictional. Ephron is such an expert at writing these characters that their traits stick to you like glue. One may wonder how something so specific can be applied to such a simple story and by the end it all makes sense. The question “why” fizzles as the story unfolds and the viewer gets lost in the heavily romanticized version of New York City where the two main characters finally fall in love. 

The films of the genre today do not quite capture the magic in the same way that Ephron was able to and are certainly not as rewatchable as her films. I have found it difficult to attach myself to many rom coms of the past ten years because they don’t reel me in the same way Ephron does. To me, those movies are enjoyable to watch once, maybe twice, but they don’t carry the same addictive quality as Ephron’s films. I should point out that it is not just the writing or the story that I feel attached to. The films have qualities about them that are so distinctive to the rom coms of their time and succeeding them until the late 2000s. The first being the fact that they were largely shot on film. While digital is now the industry standard, it wasn’t that long ago where many were skeptical of the new medium. Everything was shot on film and it was arguably better looking for films like Ephron’s. The grain allowed for a blurred look, letting the actors look like normal people unlike the high definition 4K cameras we are used to now. Film makes the movie feel warm and inviting, permitting the audience to take a glimpse into the lives of the characters. Along with film is the cinematography which is subtle but is still noticeable enough for viewers to recognize a good shot. Lastly, the set and costume design, which often feels so real, I forget that it is a set. The sets and costumes are clearly chosen to allow for the audience to relate. The apartments are never pristine, white and crisp; they look lived in. Each set-piece was lovingly placed and creates a harmony; it is sometimes underappreciated and overlooked. The costumes are also subtle but are not out of reach for the middle-class audiences that were likely to consume such films. If they wanted, they could dress like the characters in the films. They might even have the clothes in their closets right now. These films were special for a reason, and it took a whole bunch of people and a lot of hard work to make them into the classics they’ve become. 

Of course, these films are hardly perfect. They hardly represent a real American society, the supposed “melting pot”. For films that were largely set in New York City, which is very diverse, it is surprising that the main characters and supporting characters are mostly white. It can be hard to look past the fact that only one identity is represented when there are people of different gender, class, race and sexual orientation that lived in the city at the time. It may also be difficult to look past certain storylines such as Annie hiring a private detective to learn more about Sam in Sleepless in Seattle or the fact that Joe shuts down Kathleen’s business in You’ve Got Mail. Despite all the love I have for these films, it’s still important to recognize that they are not the end all be all of rom coms. Despite my dislike for most current rom coms, it is promising that they are being made again and are becoming big events. The future may look bleak, but I am hopeful that someone will save this genre and return it to its former glory with a little more inclusivity. 

To answer my original question about what makes Ephron’s films so addicting, it’s quite simple: love always wins. You can be certain of it. Regardless of how chaotic your life or the world may be, you will be assured that love rules all in the world of Ephron. These films are for everyone, the heartbroken, the hopeless romantics, the high school sweethearts, married couples, divorcees, and the chronically single. It doesn’t matter who you are or how you feel about love because it is impossible not to root for the characters. If love is the answer, then Ephron is the question. Can men and women be friends? Is there such a thing as the perfect man or woman? Will the little book shop that could survive? Does it even matter if it does? The only way to know is to sit back, relax, and let the genius of Nora Ephron take over. 

Ila Nabi
Boston

1. en-ashram-N/G
2. 01-08-2025
4. Tweet