We've all seen them. From The Parent Trap to Something's Gotta Give to The Holiday--and we love them! Nancy Meyers movies make us feel all warm and cozy inside. Additionally, a sort of longing develops when we view her films. We think, "I want that romance!" "I want to live in that house!" and the most common one, "I WANT THAT KITCHEN!"

But for how many of us--particularly Millennials--does this seem wholly unattainable now? Also, how many of us--from black to hispanic, to gay to lesbian, feel as if we were never represented in a Nancy Meyers movie? As a female filmmaker, I have a deep appreciation for the badass women who have paved the way for those of us attempting to now. Especially someone like Nancy Meyers who continued to hone her auteurism with each new film. She broke barriers as a female director and deserves immense awe and respect. However, I can't help but also feel disappointed that the wealth, success, and romance depicted in her films only ever revolved around straight white people. And that is...fine--but my film is going to argue both sides. I also wanted to propose a couple of questions with my film: Can we view the past with present-day eyes/a 2022 mindset? Can we fault our heroes for being products of their time or do we try to appreciate the contributions to art that they have made?

As an Armenian-American, female, filmmaker I've always had identity issues... As an Armenian, I'm a part of a rich culture and a unique upbringing. Yet my Armenian-ness always contended with my American identity, one that I've also fully embraced and hold pride in. With that in mind, every time I watched Nancy Meyers movies I felt like I was watching others, and not someone like me or people who looked like me--I loved them regardless as they always made me feel fuzzy inside. As I got older and rewatched some of her work however, I realized that it's only ever about white people and rich people white people at that. Coming from a working class family, the inability to see myself in the characters grew even wider.

Despite it all, I have immense respect for Nancy Meyers as a filmmaker and she continues to be an idol of mine as she's done a great deal for women in the industry. And more than being Armenian or American...being a woman - to me - is the most important aspect of my life.