Men have always been quick to dismiss the film genre of romantic comedies more popularly known by their nickname of “chick flicks”. Most of these seemingly silly and usually light- hearted tales are centered on women and are geared towards women, and seem to especially speak to women’s sensibilities and sense of humor. However, on closer and open-minded examination, some certain of these so-called ‘chick flicks’ can speak to a much wider audience than just ‘chicks’ as these films can actually display inherent humanistic qualities with which all people could identify. Despite the fact that many men are quick to dismiss ‘chick flicks’ as just that, the reality is that certain contemporary romantic comedies really center on common themes of love and passion, and such themes really pertain to all people.

Nora Ephron, a true Hollywood icon, and one of the most identifiable writers and directors of her time, sadly she passed away in June 2012 at the age of seventy one. Ephron was one of those talents that could truly connect her story with her audience and she was a master of the genre that is romantic comedies. Considered one of the most poignant romantic story tellers of contemporary Hollywood, Nora Ephron is best remembered for such works as When Harry met Sally (Writer: 1986), Sleepless in Seattle (Writer/Director: 1993), You’ve got Mail (Writer/ Director:1998) and most recently Julie and Julia (Writer/Director:2009). Though considered by some to be classic ‘chick flicks’, the success of these films and the critical acclaim they received demonstrates that Ephron’s romantic comedies truly touched the hearts of many. Her keen sense of humor and lofty depictions of romance skewered the hearts of both men and women movie goers across the country.

Those few who might hold out and continue to deny Nora Ephron’s award-winning films are indeed very few in number. It’s very clear that Ephron’s romantic comedies, deeply rooted in classically feminine themes of romance and love, yet capture the desire for love and acceptance that lies in the hearts of men and women both. Her work transcends gender stereotypes and gives keen and intriguing insight into how men and women interact. In doing this, Nora Ephron successfully bridged the emotional gap between the sexes and ultimately created ‘chick flicks’ that weren’t just for chicks at all.

To be dismissive of Ephron’s work would be to miss a true expression of the human experience. As a consequence, Nora Ephron has created some of the most readily identifiable films of modern Hollywood, and are considered classics to this day. However light-hearted, at their core Ephron’s films treat seriously the deep attachments that can arise between men and women.

Such seemingly light-hearted films as You’ve got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle really speak to the strong connection men and women can have with one another. The humorous tone and the identifiable story line that centers on a budding romance not only captured the attention of women around the world, but earned the admiration of men as well. Ephron is so spot on in her caricatures of men and women and in the witty banter that is her dialogue gives a prime demonstration of her thorough understanding of her subjects and settings. The scenes she creates are very natural and identifiable; Ephron gives her audience an opportunity to connect with her work time and time again. Both You’ve got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and center on the chase that is the game of love. They are stories of pursuit and affection that all men and women can both identify with.

Love is a universal truth that any and all individuals can connect with. With this basic theme in place as a foundation for many of Ephron’s works, she beautifully illustrates the intricacies within male/female relationships. With her film You’ve got Mail, Ephron took the romantic nature of personal correspondence, and gave it a thoroughly modern millennial interpretation by examining love through the prism that is email. Being 1998 this relatively new technological advance, Ephron was able to capture the mood of an era that proved significant to the times that we lived in. It was through her own romantic experience with email that she began to adapt this idea. In an interview on the podcast “The Conversation” Ephron relates her experience with email to host Ross Reynolds. She divulges the initial feelings of amazement she had with this new medium of communication saying “(email) which I fell so in love with when it first came along. It was so thrilling that about six or seven of your friends had your email address…and when that voice said ‘You’ve got mail.’ my heart leapt, and I thought ‘I have a letter! Someone is actually writing me something interesting.’” It is in this personal anecdote that Ephron really reveals where she drew such inspiration. She was able to draw from her own experiences and translate them into the witty and urbane screenplay that is You’ve got Mail.

Insight is what has really given Ephron her ability to transcend stereotypes and capture the wider demographic of both genders. Hollywood is guilty of propagating many gender stereotypes that keep our society in such tight constraints. It is the image that men must be men and women must be women that has left Hollywood with a very dated sense of the world. The products geared towards men are usually slave to a vision in which they need heavy action sequences, blatant depictions of sexuality and light simple plot points in order to keep their attention. It is a vision that paints men as shallow ADD teenage boys. While there is nothing wrong with films such as the ones in the Rambo franchise or those in the Crank (2006) series, they offer little substance and lack much of a story for their audience to engage in. It is almost as if men are painted as simpletons incapable of experiencing anything that engenders emotionality or that is cerebral in nature. While Hollywood is quick to compartmentalize our society, Ephron has been able to triumph over the powers that be and create work that has broken boundaries and strayed from the conformities of traditional Hollywood. Her films are the personification of the human experience. They are stories that everyone can enjoy. They deal not only with love and romance but demonstrate a picturesque love of life. It is the basic fundamentals that Ephron is so quick to accurately capture. It’s the fundamentals of life, and love of living that seize the attention of audiences as a whole.

Ephron really garnered national attention and admiration with such memorable romantic films as When Harry met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve got Mail. Through her humorous tone and spot on timing, Nora Ephron has been able to capture what is the very essence of human relationships. With clever intellectual humor, she circumvents the need for blatant depictions of love and relationships, rendering moving and cerebral stories that pertain to a wide audience. She often uses the age old tale of cat and mouse, the timeless storyline of want and desire that is so basic and fundamental to the theme of love as a whole. These central plot points give Ephron a firm base camp upon which she so elegantly charts her story lines, providing a picturesque summit and beautiful descent in which is always demonstrated with a happy ending. She provides her audience with what is arguably a predictable dénouement, but one that is graceful and satisfying. While she may not assert that love will last forever, she does demonstrate with such films as Sleepless and You’ve got Mail that love will surmount obstacles in an effort to enrich the bond we have with out fellow beings. Faced with the facts that sixty percent of all marriages end in divorce within five years, there is an overwhelming amount of statistical evidence that says that love is not enough, Ephron scoffs at such figures and rightfully so. She has been able to create tales that capture the wide spread desire in the hearts of the audience, in which love overcomes logic and truly conquers all.

Ephron’s latest film, Julie and Julia (2009) is a perfect example of a film feminine in nature but masculine in scope. It presented women in a light of power, yet having her characters still retain their feminine nature. Ephron did a masterful job of telling the story of Julia Child and her inspiration and impact on women of generations to come. It is in Julia’s journey that Ephron demonstrated the triumphant power of women and their ability to overcome hardship and achieve success in a world dominated by men. But it was through keeping traditional feminine values that grounded this story making it accessible to men and women alike. In keeping with the traditional mores of western culture, where value is placed on the conventional roles each sex plays in society, the story of Julia Child is one that has subtly disbanded with these constraints. While Ms. Child was able to assert her dominance and achieve success in an overwhelmingly masculine world, she was able to do so through a traditionally feminine modality. While men may have an archaic view, thinking that women belong in the kitchen, it is the story of Julie and Julia that has brought marked admiration from all. It truly commends the upwardly trending power that women have gained in society through out the years. It is with this that Ephron has so carefully crafted a tale that so beautifully garnered the adulation of men and women alike. This is just one prime example of Ephron’s bard like storytelling abilities that has gained her the title of a true artist.

Nora Ephron has been able to captivate the attention of audiences across the globe. She has successfully gained the admiration of all viewers and has redefined what is considered consumable entertainment for a broad demographic. Her storytelling ability and keen insight into human relationships have engendered feelings of love and hope and are experienced by general audiences across the board. Her choice of selective dialogue and universal themes has given her access and afforded her the opportunity to speak to our society as a whole. With her passing we must remember the true artist, life long feminist, and great humorist that was Nora Ephron. She is a true talent in a world where talent is scarce and there is a would be hack lurking behind every corner. An icon and influence to many, she is a woman who really left her mark on society and will always be in our hearts.