A Beautiful Personification: Love meets Email

We have got Romantic movies & Comedy Movies. We use various adjectives with a movie, but when we personify a movie with the powerful word beautiful, it has to have that Feel Good Factor. And when this beautiful movie is based on foundation of a technology, it brings out a charisma. A Spell so strong that you fall in love with it.
Image: Walls Cover
Yes, this time let's feel good with You've Got Mail. When I ended the movie, one exclamation came out, WHAT A BEAUTY. I mean, how on Earth, do you make a movie so beautiful ! It's hard to describe in words, only visuals can charm you. The movie is set in the 90s era. Another irony to my previous post, here I have an inclination towards technology.
Image: Walls Cover
Before entering the love story, first of all let us get a dose of technology. The 90s was when Computers started becoming a household name, especially in the West. America is at the pinnacle of almost every new invention. So, we have New York City blessed with two young people, Shopgirl & NY 152 glued to computer screen having Internet connection. 
Image: Walls Cover
That's when I heard a familiar sound buzzing out of Shopgirl's laptop. Instantly I realised, it's the ubiquitous signal of the slow Dial-up Internet Connection, which pops up whenever computer is trying to establish a connection. I used to have similar VSNL Internet in 2004. Oh, My God, if you are among those who used this, you are in for a sumptuous treat of nostalgia.

AOL, American Online, was among the pioneers of Internet service. and it offered popular services like email & instant messaging. The moment you received an email, it alerted with a voice of three words, "You've Got Mail". People waited the whole day expecting a single email compared to hundreds of unread email in our mailbox at present !
Image: Walls Cover
So, coming back to the story, Shopgirl is excited when she receives an email from NY 152 where he writes about his dog Brinkley. They agree that they shall not reveal their real identity and email each other with their handles "Shopgirl" & "NY 152" only. Each morning they impatiently wait to get the first email. They exchange a lot about their life matters. Gradually, somehow, in those conversations, they start to have feeling for each other; but are afraid to admit. Although I haven't been to NYC, I can say the movie shows NYC so splendidly. One has to know how to create vivid images from backgrounds

Now, we have Kathleen who runs a Standalone bookstore, The Shop Around The Corner. She has a handful of employees, and organises Book Reading Sessions for Children. One day, a man named Joe arrives with two kids to her bookstore. He is actually a rival Owner of mega-bookstore Fox Books, spying on her. They interact, unknown to Kathleen that he is a Fox. Later at a Party, She gets to know that Joe is Joe Fox, and so starts their rivalry.
Image: Walls Cover
So we have two pairs, one on the verge of love while the other on the verge of tearing up each other. Little do they know that, they are actually the same persons. Thus begins the love in virtual world, and dislike in real world.
Image: Walls Cover
Time passes, and finally NYC 152 and Shopgirl decide to meet at a restaurant. Arriving, he decides to take a peek inside the restaurant. He knows, she would carry a book and a flower, and when his friend tells that lady is Kathleen Kelly, he is surprised. He decides not to meet her as NY 152 and keep it a secret. Instead he arrives as Joe and much to her annoyance, irritates her about her meeting with this friend.
Image: Walls Cover
Later NYC 152 apologises to Shopgirl giving an excuse via email. They continue their emails. And as for sure, her shop shuts down due to Fox's bookstore. Joe is part guilty but it is business after all. Soon, she falls ill prompting Joe to visit at her apartment much to her protest.  There Joe asks her about her friend. urging her to meet him. She admits that he is actually an online friend whom she has never met but wants him crazily.
Image: Walls Cover
Taking the bait, Joe starts helping her on how to get closer to NY 152, giving her new tips for emails at every subsequent meet. Gradually Shopgirl-NY 152 online love blossoms. They decide to meet, this time NY 152 will come with Brinkley. 
Image: Walls Cover
On that day, Joe spends time with Kathleen on the streets of NYC. At the same time, he tells her that, had it not been him being Joe Fox and her being Kathleen Kelly as rivals, perhaps he would have dated her and fallen in love with her. Even Kathleen is somewhat infatuated by Joe's presence, but she loves NY 152.

Joe ask her that if she can forgive NY 152 for letting her down by not meeting her at the restaurant, why can she not forgive him for his tiny deed of putting her out of business. She excuses herself and proceeds to meet NY 152.
Image: Walls Cover
Later in the evening at The 91st Street Garden where they are supposed to meet, she waits and suddenly hears someone shouting Brinkley's name and sees his dog. Behind, Joe reveals himself to her. She is so much overwhelmed with joy and tears, that she tells him how much she wanted him to be NY 152 so badly and indeed it actually turned to be him. Joe wipes her tears. they stare and hold each other and the movie ends with a beautiful kiss with Brinkley trying to jump over them.
Image: Walls Cover
Until then. See you fellas. Signing off.

Comments

Post a Comment