When She Says No

Although this women's empowerment TV-movie was written by a woman, Deena Goldstone, it examines how a flirtatious night between one woman and three men goes awry quite powerfully due to a teleplay that examines both sides equally (although it is clear the filmmakers want the viewer on the lady's side). A college professor says three of her colleagues raped her in a hotel room while away at a seminar, but the men in her life try talking her out of pressing charges. Kathleen Quinlan is excellent as the naive, sexually-repressed teacher, and director Paul Aaron doesn't tiptoe around the sordid issues involved. However, those hoping for a courtroom drama with a satisfying wrap-up may be disappointed; by ending the third act with a question mark, Goldstone asks viewers to fill in the blanks themselves. She's not interested in writing a revenge movie--this character isn't about retribution. Instead, it's a portrait of a woman who believes it's her job to wait on men, and how being overly-obedient can be misunderstood. It's also about how men and women look at sex quite differently, especially when there's more than one man involved. The men felt the woman was seducing them--she was a little drunk and was feeling flirtatious; they felt she initiated the situation--she says she was enjoying the flattery. But does she protest enough when the time is right? The movie is brave enough to ask the question and then NOT give us a concrete answer. Some may feel this is a cop-out. I felt it was thought-provoking and given a solid presentation.