"Sleepless in Seattle," written and directed by Nora Ephron, is one of the most unforgettable and popular romantic comedies ever put on film. With a sweet and sentimental story, and a number of references to the classic "An Affair to Remember," "Sleepless in Seattle" is always entertaining, no matter how many times one watches it. The film is about one's ability to finally move on after a lost love and allow himself to fall in love again, and a child who wants his family to be complete once more, and those must be among the most natural of all desires.Telling the story of Sam Baldwin (played by Tom Hanks), a young man whose wife passes away, and his 8-year-old son, Jonah (played by Ross Malinger), they move to Seattle to escape memories and start a new life. When Jonah has had enough of seeing his father miserable, he calls a radio show and shares his dad's story. This story touches hundreds of people, one of whom is Annie Reed (portrayed by Meg Ryan). She writes to Sam a letter expressing her sympathy to what he is going through but then she does not send it because she is in relationship with a man in the same time. However, Annie's friend sends the letter which is going to change her life. Day by day, Annie is not able to control her emotion and has a crush with the "Seattle man " so much that she fly to Seattle to meet him. Ironically, a wrong situation makes her misunderstand so she gives up him. On the other hand, Annie's letter leaves such a deep impression to Jonah that he decides to come to New York alone to meet his new mother on the top of Emprise building after failing to convince his father fly to there. Sam obviously chases his son to New York and has a romantic meeting at the last sense.
The first thing that makes difference that is the contrast between the opening sense and the last sense. Sleepless in Seattle's opening shot takes place in the cemetery when a standard funeral scene turns visually stunning when the camera cranes up and exposes the skyline of Chicago.