Genre in film theory is defined by the careful examination of literary genre and is based on the organization of a film and its sequential events. Likewise, films are most often classified based on their mood, i.e. emotional tone, setting, i.e. location, and thematic topic, i.e. the issues of the film. Likewise, all these fundamentals are taken into consideration for the film can be adequately classified into a genre. When we look closely at a film genre, we typically observe complexities that give awareness of subtle nuances of meaning or feeling, especially in artistic expression or performance lost sight of the fact that a genre convention reappears in the film, i.e. a sort of common identity, which ultimately contributes in an essential way. Jointly these elements are influential in classifying a film into a genre, which includes essential elements such as iconography , plot and thematic elements. An epitome of a genre drama is exemplified by the film, The Ice Storm (1997) and consequently, with an analysis of its genre, demonstrates David Bordwell's reflexive approach which exposes its social function, relativity, during the period of its production. Ice Storm is classified as a drama genre as it reflects in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with poignant themes. The theme includes middle-income families who find their lives spiraling out of control due to experimentation with alcohol, drugs and casual sex. A drama genre is a broad category as it focuses on characters who are in conflict at particular times in their lives. For example, a character may experience a personal conflict (…… middle of paper…… 2000). http://www.jstor.org/pss/378935. June 4, 2011.Center for Disease Control. “Vital Statistics of the United States 1979: Divorce.” (See: Table 2.2). http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/mgdv79_3.pdf. June 4, 2011.Fischoff, Stuart, Ph.D. Journal of Media Psychology. “Preferred Movies and Film Genres as a Function of Race, Age, and Gender.” (1998). http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/media3.html. June 4, 2011. Hardesty, Mary. Magazine of the Director's Guild of America (DGA). "Ang Lee on Directing in an Ice Storm" (1997). http://www.industrycentral.net/director_interviews/AL01.HTM. June 1, 2011.Miller, Carolyn R. Quarterly Journal of Speech. "Gender as social action." (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~crmiller/Publications/MillerQJS84.pdf). June 6, 2011.Schamus, Kim. Interview with James Schamus, screenwriter of Ice Storm. (May 31, 2011).