The latest rom-com to hit Netflix is a German-language film set in both Germany and Turkey that does something very unique. She Said Maybe follows the story of Mavi, a young woman who spends most of her time with her boyfriend’s family but has big dreams and wants to make something of herself. But her world is turned upside down when she ends up in Turkey and gets in touch with her roots, i.e., learns that she’s the heiress of a business empire. What follows is an almost Sex And The City-esque charade of going around the country in fancy clothes and partying it up. But don’t be fooled by the glamor, because this is essentially a story about living your dreams. The film just presents it a bit convolutedly.
The thing that I found most interesting about this film is that the movie begins with the central couple already together. They’re close, and Can wants to propose to Mavi, but he’s struggling to do so because his plans continue to get botched. However, Mavi already knows he’s planning to propose, and while she’s very much in love with him; she can’t say yes just yet because she has things she wants to do. When in Turkey, Mavi gets this opportunity from her grandmother, Yadigar. But are Yadigar’s intentions right for Mavi? This is the main premise of She Said Maybe.
To be honest, the thing I didn’t fully understand is the title of the film, but I suppose we can get past it. The film has good intentions; it’s definitely a sweet message, but it also feels a little bit surface level. Sure, we know Mavi’s an architect and she wants to help people, but what else? What makes her special? The same with the relationship: it’s established, in that they’ve been together long enough for him to want to propose, but what about why they like each other and what makes him so sure she’s the love of his life?
As you can imagine, the best part of the film is the outfits worn by Mavi, her friends, and her grandmother. There are definitely some stereotypical elements as well, but instead of a gay best friend, she has cousins who are all about her style and appearance. The film acts like a tourism ad for Turkey. There’s a sequence including a hot air balloon, but that’s probably as Turkish as this movie gets. It doesn’t really go in-depth into anything important, including the family that we’re supposed to care about.
I think the part that makes the film at all appealing is the actress who plays Mavi, Beritan Balci. She’s super cheerful and has a big smile on her face for most of the film. She’s got interesting features, which makes watching her intriguing. You could say this film fits the Princess Diaries trope in that it transports a person away after revealing to them that they belong to an entirely different country and are actually a very important person there. Mavi might not be a princess exactly, but what difference does it make to call a rose by any other name? Even their names are kind of alike haha. Just as Mia has a bunch of people simping for her in The Princess Diaries (2), Mavi has a couple of suitors despite being in a committed relationship. This is what makes you wonder, why Can? The ending of the film is surprisingly bland, except for the dancing, because I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m not the biggest fan of how things turned out, though.
I suppose, at the end of the day, it’s a film about navigating through relationship trouble. What happens when you feel stuck? How do you raise issues without sounding like you’re mad? How to seem positive? How to deal with external forces? But, I don’t think the concluding act is very positive in showcasing the healthiest relationship. It doesn’t really give us anything new or interesting. But I guess there are only 3 ways it could go, and this film chose to go with option number one.
I think the film is decently paced but also feels set-up to be a background watch. Even with the beautiful landscapes, you’re likely to feel a little bit bored, because it’s quite predictable and slow in the second act. But I suppose that’s the OTT curse, which I’ve honestly found myself speaking about way too often lately. I mean yes, we can get distracted by our phones, but if you present us with an interesting enough film, it’s possible we’ll be glued to the right screen. Especially when it comes to films, I don’t think they need to cater to the double-screen situation, because movies get over quick, and this one is under 2 hours, so sure, we could spend that much time watching it.
At the end of the day, this film doesn’t have much to offer, except for the Turkish landscape; if you’re interested in that, then you can definitely give this one a go. Additionally, the protagonist is a part of why this film could be worth watching, because she’s always excited to see the world through rose-tinted glasses, and I think that’s hard to see now without the character looking like they’re naive and over-innocent. At least Mavi doesn’t come across as either of those things. She’s firm in her decisions, and smart too. So if you do end up watching the film, that’s probably what’s going to drive you to keep going.
I can’t say I hated this film, but I wasn’t mad about it either. It’s got some good elements, but at the end of the day, I wish there was more to it. Ultimately, it’s yet another forgettable film, but at least you get to see Turkey through the eyes of a German, eh? I’d give She Said Maybe 2.5 out of 5 stars, because it’s just average.
