Cinema Sunday: Crossing Delancey

 

Tomorrow is February 14th which is Valentine's Day so with that in mind, today's Cinema Sunday delves into the world of the romantic comedy to ask that question that has plagued authors and philosophers for centuries:  can a sophisticated, literate uptown girl find love with a downtown man who makes pickles?

This is the question at the crux of Crossing Delancey, a 1988 film starring Amy Irving as Isabelle Grossman who works for one of those quaint New York bookstores which in the real world would not have an effective business model for keeping the doors open but can always be found in romantic comedies set in New York.  

Isabelle gets all twitter-pated when author Anton Maes comes to the bookstore to give a reading. She's all about the suave urban literary uptown Manhattan sophistication which is in contrast to her traditional downtown Jewish upbringing.

Isabelle is devoted to her Bubbe (grandmother), Ida, who lives on the Lower East Side. Ida just wants her granddaughter to meet a nice (Jewish, of course) guy and settle down.  So Ida works with a matchmaker to set up a meeting in Ida's  kitchen between Isabelle and Sam Posner, who owns the nearby pickle shop.

Pickles? Really! 

Isabelle still has stars in her eyes for Anton Maes and upper class Manhattan.  

Be careful what you wish for. 

As Isabelle peels back the layers on Sam and realizes there's more depths to him that she knew, Anton continues to dazzle. But Anton's reveals a lack of depth, just his shallow ego. He sees Isabelle as an assistant, not a true partner.

Isabelle dumps Anton like a bad habit and tries to make amends with Sam. 

But it's too late. She's missed her chance with Sam.

Or does she?

It's a romantic comedy. What do you think?

Isabelle's focus on status risks making her unlikeable but hey, it's a smart writer versus a dude who makes pickles. I guess who can blame her, right?

Her relationship with her Bubbe helps to warm her up a lot and every scene with Ida is a delight.   

All in all, Crossing Delancey hardly re-invents the wheel when it comes to the mechanics of a rom-com but what makes the experience unique is the way the rhythms of Jewish life in New York City give the film a warm, comforting tone.  

No, Isabelle does not miss her chance with Sam.