The American actress who became recognized for romantic comedies considers them to be a noble genre because they bring comfort to the public. Meg Ryan explained, at the Tribeca Festival in Lisbon, that she understands that cinema should be an “empathy machine”.
She holds the title of “queen of romantic comedies”, due to the many successes she starred in in the 80s and 90s. When Harry Met Sally (An Inevitable Love) a Sleepless in Seattle (Love Tune), passing through You’ve Got Mail (You Have a Message), Meg Ryan was the star of them all. It helped to cement this cinematographic genre, often overlooked by critics.
Decades later, the American actress comes to in Lisbon, for defending the honor of the genre unloved by critics, but adored by the public. It’s the Meg Ryan’s first time in Portugal. It has just arrived in the country. “Just in time for your storm”, he jokes. Bad weather, he says, comes in handy if it helps with the turmoil at sea. The actress, confesses, is fan of the documentary series about the big waves of Nazaré and wanted see them in person. “Snot really seriously?”, he asks, as if he doesn’t believe it, to the Portuguese in the room. A room full of fans of the films that were once considered “red”, but now they are considered authentic classics.
“When we made these films, we didn’t think we were in a ‘golden age.’ They weren’t even well-received by critics,” says Meg Ryan.
Still, the actress refuses to accept that romantic comedies were the “black sheep” of cinema. “I don’t feel that. I have a lot of respect for the genre.”
Meg Ryan talks about how made “more than 40 films”, but which are the “eight romantic comedies” in which he starred that people seem to remember. “They are the ones who last over time”, use.
E why Is that so? “Why romantic comedies are comforting”, explains the actress. “The people ofThey told me that they watch my films when they areto the sicks”, ri.
“People remember how you make them feel. And those movies make people feel good.”maintains Meg Ryan, for whom the cinema should be an “empathy machine”.
“In today’s times it is important to trust poets instead of politicians, make art instead of war”, he argues. And why not, he says, use genres like romantic comedy for social commentary.
The art of reinvention and ofages of women in cinema
Ana Martingo/SIC News
With more than four decades of career, Meg Ryan also came to this Tribeca Festival to talk about the way she has reinvented herself over this time. AND argue that change is not dramatic or problematic, but part of the growth process.
“Reinvention is what you do when you’re alive,” he says. “It’s a natural evolution. I would be bored if I didn’t reinvent some part of myself.”
The actress tells how, for close to ten years, he decided to move away from the world of cinema. She didn’t feel inspired. Until it reinvented itself. Experimentou passar da frentand from the chamber to the rear and debuted in directing. She once again felt inspired to make films – and, she confesses, it won “a new respect” by the craft.
“I wish I had-mand became a director sooner, I think it would have made me a better actressr”, he says.
But, he emphasizes, “nIt’s never too late to reinvent ourselves”.
“I see no age limits for reinvention. Life changes and we have to keep navigating.”
Reinventions that can happen at an individual level, but also at a collective level. Like what Meg Ryan points out happened in representation of women in cinema.
“We have made progress in the way women are represented in cinema, there are more women directors with responsibilities in the field“, it says.
Before, women in positions of power they were relegated to television – and it was there that television entered your “golden age”, aunt Meg Ryan. “That was thanks to women. Now there are mmore stories about sisterhood and women working in the community.”
