How Harry Met Sally: Relational Analysis Through Cinematic Storytelling
Can men and women be friends without sex?
Introduction
When Harry Met Sally is a 1989 romantic-comedy drama written by Nora Ephron and directed by Bob Riener. The film’s title, ‘When Harry Met Sally ‘, not only refers to the moment the two main characters first met but also serves as a metaphor for the evolution of their relationship. The film depicts the relationship between Sally and Harry from a female and male point of view. Indeed, the film also highlights how intimate relationships start, develop, struggle, or die. Ultimately, the film critically addresses the question, “Can men and women have only platonic relationships?”
Throughout the film, it solidifies that relationships are created through a cost-benefit analysis, a theoretical framework that assesses the potential benefits and drawbacks of a relationship through person-to-person interactions. In addition, the film exemplifies an example of relational theories such as Social Exchange Theory, Rational Dialect Theory, and Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Moreover, the film gives an overview of how friendships and gender, self-disclosure, and expressing emotionally effectively can affect a relationship, depending on the cost-benefit analysis.
