Tonight's viewing: 'When Harry Met Sally' remains the best romantic comedy ever

Tonight, HRT's First Program will air Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's 1989 classic, 'When Harry Met Sally,' a film widely regarded as the pinnacle of the romantic comedy genre. The movie famously opens with Harry Burns' cynical assertion that men and women cannot be friends because "sex always gets in the way." His companion, the optimistic Sally Albright, vehemently disagrees.

Over the next twelve years, the film chronicles their journey from initial dislike to deep friendship and eventual love. It eschews fairytale tropes for a sharp, intelligent dissection of modern relationships, driven by Ephron's brilliant screenplay. The script itself was inspired by Reiner's own post-divorce life, with Harry's pessimism and humor reflecting the director, while Sally embodies aspects of Ephron and her friends – intelligent and controlling.

The film's structure was groundbreaking for its time, eschewing linear storytelling for a narrative that jumps through different life stages, showcasing the characters' evolution. Interspersed are faux documentary segments featuring couples recounting their meeting stories. These segments, based on real interviews, brilliantly illustrate the messy paths to love and subtly prepare the audience for Harry and Sally's own eventual pairing, suggesting that love requires patience rather than simply falling from the sky.

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men and women cannot be friends because "seks uvijek stane na put".

No discussion of 'When Harry Met Sally' is complete without mentioning its most famous scene, a revolutionary moment in depicting female sexuality. In New York's Katz's Delicatessen, Sally sets out to prove to Harry that men cannot discern when a woman is faking an orgasm. Her public, convincing performance leaves Harry speechless and provides the audience with the iconic line, "I'll have what she's having," delivered by director Reiner's own mother.

Ultimately, 'When Harry Met Sally' established the template for modern romantic comedies, becoming a cultural touchstone. Its DNA is evident in countless films that followed. Despite dated hairstyles and technology, the film's portrayal of friendship blossoming into love between two imperfect individuals remains profoundly touching and timeless.

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I'll have what she's having.