5 Films That Challenge Romantic Ideals

5. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Directed by Rob Reiner, this film sees Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) both en route from the University of Chicago to New York in an attempt to pave their own paths. At that point they're more friends than anything, in fact they both are irritated by one another. Their flaws become immediately apparent to one another and are completely turned off to one another's idea of relationships. Harry believes that a platonic relationship between man and woman is impossible, where Sally believes the opposite and is disgusted by the implication. They part ways and run into each other years later aboard a flight, in which it's revealed Harry is married. Then, years after that encounter, they bump into one another again only to find Harry's divorced. From there, they form a friendship and deal with the emotions that are brought forth because of the strong foundation they've built. I like that both characters carry such disdain for one another from the get go. It's an interesting pairing and really enforces the idea that opposites may in fact attract. As the film progresses, these characters deal with their friends (played by Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher) having what's perceived to be a solid relationship and still being single themselves, crossing the line between friendship and endearing love and confronting those emotions. It's a constant struggle for both Harry and Sally as they come to terms with the idea that their pairing may be a mistake and that they probably wouldn't work well as a couple. This is what makes the film work as well as its predictable ending. What makes the ending that much easier to accept is the fact that it's easy to become emotionally invested in either character. You feel for them, believe in them, and their interactions are so authentic, that you'd swear you had similar conversations. These are characters that are well deserving of one another, but like all relationships, that moment of bliss comes only by investing time in another and affording them all the patience one could possibly provide.