5 codes (When Harry Met Sally)

I chose to analyse When Harry Met Sally... (1989) for my film (the first 7 minutes).

Enigma code:

• Who is the old couple? Why are they relevant to the story?
• Who is Harry kissing?
• Where are they driving to? Why are they going together?
• Why are they going to New York? What will happen to them in New York?
• Why are people with such different personalities going to spend an 18 hour road trip together and what will happen?

Action code:

• The old couple are talking - we know (eventually) that they are not Harry and Sally, so this suggests possible foreshadowing of events and how Harry and Sally will fall in love.
• Driving to New York together - a long journey, we know that their meeting and this journey is important to the story. This makes us want to know what happens to them later on.

Semiotic code:

• Big building with lots of young students around - a university/college.
• Sally is wearing make up and her hair is perfectly done - takes pride in her appearance at all times, even for a road trip.
• Harry is wearing jeans and a jumper - a bit scruffy, doesn't really care about his appearance.
• Wide shots of the road & outdoors where they are driving - suggests the length of how long they have been driving for.

Cultural code:

• Titles - simple, with cheerful music - get the sense that this is a lighthearted film, rather than a thriller or horror movie.
• Old couple telling story of how they met - suggests romantic comedy.
• Harry and Sally arguing about Casablanca - a well known romantic film, so we understand what they're discussing and side with Harry or Sally.
• Going to New York - famous for being a big city, we understand that they're going there for opportunities and to experience something new.
• Characters arguing - building tension between the two, and they have to spend the next 18 hours together.

Symbolic code:

• Harry talking about his "dark side" - possibly a bit pretentious? 
• Sally talking about her planning - very organised, maybe irritating?
• Old couple talking at the beginning - foreshadowing of Harry and Sally's relationship?