When She Says No (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews

Not so much a film about rape as it is a portrait of a woman who learns the hard way to stand up for herself

[moonspinner55 · 6/10 · 29 July 2005]

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.

Quinlan at her most beautiful

[albundyz · 5/10 · 28 July 2005]

This is not a great movie by any means, however Kathleen Quinlan is one of my all-time favorite actresses. In my opinion, Kathleen is more attractive in this movie than any other of her movies. So, if you think Kathleen Quinlan is sexy, and you just want to appreciate her for that, this is the movie for you. otherwise, skip it. the plot is OK. the acting is OK. remember this is a made-for-TV movie.

Kathleen Quinlan is the main character in this movie. Consequently, you get to see her beauty constantly.

I might qualify my above statement about Kathleen Quinlan. She had a small port in the movie "The Doors" where she was pretty spectacular also, but she was only in that movie briefly.

Utter nonsense

[JayJeffersonCooke · 4/10 · 24 January 2002]

A film likely to show up on the Lifetime network again and again. A film that seems to want to empower women, but it simply exploits women. This piece of junk has a ridiculous story and a cop-out ending.

I remember many of my university classmates laughing and making fun of this movie when it made its debut. Don't bother to watch.

This movie changed my thinking

[jandybanandy · 10/10 · 9 January 2007]

I caught this movie on television when it first came out. I was 22 years old, and it made a huge impression on me. I have never seen it a second time but would be curious to. Now 20+ years later I might feel embarrassed to have ever appreciated the movie, but it truly redefined rape for me. The question of rape is always clear when a person is physically overpowered, and it's pretty easy to see when a mentally challenged person has been taken advantage of. But in "When She Says No" the imbalance of power is emotional. Rose is smart academically – as I recall she teaches at a college – but despite being bright and physically healthy and well, she has poor self esteem largely due to her upbringing, and that is what the professor who she looks up to takes advantage of. Maybe I just caught the movie at the right time in my life, and I was a lot like Rose - - smart, privileged, good looking, but with zero self-esteem – zero self-respect – and I could see how that could lead to being emotionally overpowered. I thought it was well-acted in that it was very clear that it wasn't a case of consensual sex, then regrets. It was quite clear to the viewer, the victim, and the men, that Rose did not want the sex, despite the fact that she didn't fight it. She simply wasn't able to fight it, and they knew that.

A movie that asks a serious question

[cargilla-1 · 8/10 · 28 September 2015]

I saw this movie when it first came out in 1984, and was truly struck by it. It is not necessarily the best acted or directed, but clearly asks questions about what constitutes rape. Initially, I thought that the main character led the men on and could have left at any time. However, after I discussed this movie with some coworkers the following day, I talked to people on both sides of the argument. I moved away from my black and white 'no it wasn't rape', to a much more open viewpoint that it could have been. The movie does a good job of not providing the answer and depending on how it has aged, think the questions it raised then are as valid today.