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“Vielleicht besser so!” (translation: it’s perhaps better that way)
A young photographer casually shrugs off a rejection for an application, by exclaiming maybe it was for the best. But her behavior says otherwise, since she is clearly shaken, demotivated, and unable to find the will to pick her camera and hit the click button. What will it take to push her out of the slump?
Written and directed by Jaschar Marktanner (‘The Turing Test’), the German short film ‘Vielleicht besser so’ (Perhaps Better That Way) opens with a woman in a bright red shirt waiting for her friend Jule (Marlene Fahnster) at a café. The setting is warm and cozy, and what stands out, especially to those glued to social media, is that neither woman pauses to photograph their food before eating. But as they watch a child blowing bubbles, Jule’s friend confesses her concern that Jule no longer show interest in documenting the small moments she once cherished.
A little under 13 minutes long, ‘Vielleicht besser so’ demonstrates how unexpected little encounters can sometimes lead to inspiration. Encouraged by her friend, Jule steps out for a walk with her camera and crosses paths with a stranger whose brief conversation helps her see things in new light.
While Jule’s demotivated state and setbacks feel relatable, the second half of the film does not quite click. Her interaction with the stranger in her neighborhood feels contrived, lacking the natural charm and spontaneous spark that such moments often carry in real life.
Marlene Fahnster delivers a believable performance as the struggling photographer in the short runtime, but the actor portraying the stranger comes across as slightly awkward in comparison. Which is probably why their banter isn’t memorable.
Ironically, the man asks Jule to meet him again in three weeks at the same spot, if she remembers their brief exchange. We never learn whether that rendezvous happens, but if Jule is someone who chats with strangers often, it would be easy for that moment to fade. And well, vielleicht besser so!
The short film wraps up with a gentle feel-good beat. Maybe all we ever need is a walk to clear the mind.
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