Most of us can agree that finding what makes us truly happy is a difficult task. Whether it is because we are scared of what people will think or because we have no idea what brings us joy, we spend our lives going through the motions. Crossing Delancey (1988) represents this fight for happiness by introducing us to Izzy Grossman (Amy Irving). She finds herself in a tough spot, caught between worrying about other people’s perceptions of herself and choosing to be her authentic self. Finding what makes one happy enough to break the curse of caring what others think is not an easy task; however, with the help of her grandmother, Bubbie (Reizl Bozyk), Izzy follows this bumpy road to self-discovery and shows the audience what it takes to find happiness.
Izzy finds herself trapped in that one “situationship” that feels impossible to get out of. You know, the relationship that seems to be a committed one, but is disappointingly casual. This perfectly describes the relationship between Izzy and Anton Maes (Jeroen Krabbé), the well-established European author. While we all love the chase, there comes a point when we have to realize that the noncommitted man will not be our husband. Even if this were a silent film, the audience would understand the state of Izzy’s relationships. For example, scenes of Izzy and Anton include physical objects separating the two. This represents their difficulty in making a complete connection that relationships should have. Izzy can try as much as she wants, but there will always be some type of barrier between them. Thankfully, Izzy realizes that she will never have that connection with Anton and gives Sam Posner (Peter Riegert), the pickle vendor, a chance. Sam is the kind of man who shows kindness and patience: two things that women want but never actually go for. The viewer witnesses this inviting-ness as the film shows Izzy and Sam close to each other in many scenes. We also notice the personal, close-up shots of Izzy and Sam, which represent how close their relationship is growing. With that being said, we are assured by the film’s cinematography that if Izzy can choose the right man for her life, so can we.
Sam and Anton are not only representing the men of today but also the perspective we have in life. Anton represents the glowing opportunity that looks good from far away but is revealed to be something we do not want the closer it gets. We can understand this by the multiple scenes that have mirrors in them. The mirrors suggest that Izzy is contemplating her decisions and the turmoil she has within herself. On the flip side, the lighting in Sam’s scenes is warm and inviting, reflecting the comfort that being your authentic self brings. Bubbie aids Izzy in realizing this comfort found with Sam. Izzy realizes that being her true, authentic self makes her happy. Her journey to self-discovery ends as she opens herself to a relationship with Sam and is okay with whatever people perceive her as.
I have watched countless romantic comedies, as I am sure many of us have, and I have not seen one that presents such a strong message as this one. This film is about finding true love, but it is truly deeper than that. Does Izzy end up choosing Sam? Yes, she does. However, picking Sam represents her choosing to care more about what makes her life more fulfilled. She is choosing what makes her happy, not what makes others happy. We do not need a film that throws inspiring quotes at us for three hours to feel motivated to turn our lives around. All we need is a film that shows us real-life situations and what to do with them: much like this charming portrayal of a sophisticated, independent woman and a pickle vendor falling in love.
Crossing Delancey is available from The Criterion Collection.
Author Biography
Sophia Voyles is an undergrad pursuing a degree in Literature, Media, and Communication at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Sophia’s thread is in literature and design. This is her first official review of a film and it is one within her preferred genre. Romantic comedies have always been a genre that she enjoyed watching.
Film Details
Crossing Delancey (1988)
USA
Director Joan Micklin Silver
Runtime 97 minutes
Blu-ray
USA, 2025
Distributed by The Criterion Collection (region A/1)
